A €1.34m contract to constructed of a new Coach Park reception building and the upgrading of existing coach parking facilities at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has been signed.
Clare County Council and L&M Keating Ltd have confirmed that construction work on the 280 square metre building, which includes toilet facilities, meeting rooms and offices, will commence shortly and is scheduled for completion in June 2018.
“The development of improved visitor facilities is imperative considering the Cliffs of Moher’s status as one of Ireland’s most visited natural attraction,” commented Mayor of Clare Tom McNamara.
“I am delighted to see that the new building has been designed in keeping with the design of the existing visitor centre and will improve visitor services including the provision of additional toilets for visitors arriving at the visitor attraction by coach,” he added.
Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, stated, “Clare County Council’s investment in new and improved visitor facilities at the Cliffs of Moher has helped to reinforce the site’s status as one of the most visited tourism attractions in the country. Groups travelling to the Cliffs by coach account for almost half of all visitors so it is important that we continue to invest in further improving the overall visitor experience offered to group tour customers.”
Geraldine Enright, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, said, “These proposed new facilities will allow us to provide a first class welcome to coach tours while they also will contribute to improved group management and sustainable growth at the Cliffs.”
She continued, “Measures to sustainably manage group tour numbers have been in place for some time while advanced booking and off peak incentives are in place, the delivery of this new reception building and upgraded parking facilities will further enhance the customer journey.”
The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience is one of three “Signature Discovery Points” in County Clare along the route of the Wild Atlantic Way, the others being the Bridges of Ross and Loop Head Lighthouse. The Cliffs are also a key component of the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.
For the fourth year in a row, the Cliffs recorded one million visitors within a calendar year in mid-August. The North Clare visitor attraction is now on track to exceed its record visitor total of 1,427,166 people in 2016.
For more visit www.cliffsofmoher.ie.