Day trip to the Cliffs of Moher with a UCD Study Abroad student

Post by Talar Hovsepian, Engineering Study Abroad student.

The Cliffs of Moher, located in Doolin, County Clare, are monumental sea cliffs and are one of Ireland’s top landmarks for international students to visit. The cliffs are at the edge of the famous Burren region, known for its unique landscape and wildlife. 

I joined a UCD Global Study Abroad trip there on February 14, so come along with me as I take you on our trip to the Cliffs of Moher!

6:45 am: Boarded the Coach to County Clare

Waking up bright and early on a Saturday morning, I joined about 90 other international students as we boarded the coach and began our drive to the West Coast of Ireland.

I made sure to enjoy the sunrise over the horizon to get the day started!

8:30 am: Pitstop at Barack Obama Plaza

On the way to County Clare, we got breakfast at the Barack Obama Plaza, which is located in Moneygall, County Offaly. 

The petrol station is famous around Ireland because of Obama’s ancestral ties to the town of Moneygall. We made sure to spend some time snapping photos with the statue of Michelle and Barack. 

11:00 am: Arrived at the Cliffs of Moher

Once we arrived, my friends and I walked along the cliff path to view every angle of the impressive cliffs and to snap some more photos. Standing at 214 meters, they look even more unbelievable in person. 

We even got to see some wandering sheep and grabbed a tasty bite at the visitor’s centre.

1:00 pm: Journey to Aillwee Cave

On the way to our next stop, our bus driver made sure to point out some of the sights and told us some Irish history. 

We also got to hear folk stories and even sang a few tunes together!

2:00 pm: Arrived at Aillwee Cave

We arrived at the Aillwee Cave and began our tour of the cave system that is populated by stalagmites, stalactites and waterfalls.

Deep in the Burren, we got to see the crevices where bears once hibernated alongside the beautiful limestone walls of the cave. 

I made sure to buy some stunning Irish souvenirs, including a pretty postcard designed by a local artist!

2:40 pm: Enjoyed the Snowfall

On exiting the cave, we were met with snow! We spent some extra time enjoying Ireland’s first snow of the season, which is a rarity for the country. 

We also took many photos of the surrounding landscape as the flurries began to fill the cool winter air. 

6:00 pm: Dinner with Friends

We made one last quick pitstop at a rest station to have dinner. 

My friends and I ate together on the bus as we shared our favourite memories and highlights from the day. This nicely rounded out the last hour or so of our journey.

7:00 pm: Arrived in Dublin after a Day of Sightseeing

We arrived home around 7 pm on Saturday night to conclude our fun day of sightseeing, but not without a round of singing through Rattlin’ Bog on the way!

Watch what happened on the day on (opens in a new window)Instagram.