A new Shannon Heritage retail store, specialising in local retail and artisan products, has opened at the Clare County Council operated Cliffs of Moher.
The design concept of the shop is based on bringing the terrain and landscapes from the Cliffs and Co. Clare into the shop to create another unforgettable Shannon Heritage shopping experience.
A light blue floor inspired by the sea combined with some jagged edges on the unitary to represent the Cliffs and a green fabric trim on some of the fixtures to represent the grass create the shops unique interior.
Some of the offerings that visitors will be able to purchase at the new Cliffs of Moher shop include hand-made porcelain and clay sculptures of the Cliffs of Moher made by Creative Wave, based in Doolin and vases and candlesticks based on the Flowers of the Burren made by Creative Clay. Also available are handcrafted stained glass wooden plaques made by Siobhan Fawl from Spancill Hill, Co. Clare.
Alannah McMahon, aged just 16 years from Liscannor Co Clare, hand paints scenes of the Cliffs of Moher and works with 350 million years old Moher flagstone for her sculptures that are both exclusive to the Cliffs of Moher Shop. Also exclusive to the shop is a range of espresso cups and saucer sets, wall tiles and coasters made by Philip Morrison, a painter in Lahinch Co Clare, who worked on these with Tipperary Crystal.
There is also a range of delicious treats available including Wilde Irish Chocolates in Co. Clare and homemade Clare Jams from Doolin, Co. Clare. Spanish Point Sea Vegetables – sustainably hand harvested by The Talty Family off the coast of Co. Clare are also on-sale.
A selection of unique, high quality soaps including palm oil free soap that is totally rainforest friendly and Moher Soaps from Co. Clare are available. Airmid soaps – a handmade chamomile soap which is suitable for sensitive skin – is handmade by organic horticulturist Kevin Lynch. All bars are cut by hand and are cured for at least six weeks before sale.
The shop will also sell many popular items that were previously available in the previous Cliffs of Moher Shop such as Irish Slate Craft, which first started working in the Cliffs of Moher Shop in 2007 with one small framed picture and is now one of the top six suppliers to the Cliffs of Moher. Visitors can also remember their visit to the Cliffs by picking up a DVD of Cliffs of Moher and the local area which was developed by Dermot Rooney of Atlantic Edge, who started working with Shannon Heritage at the Cliffs of Moher Shop in 2008.
Speaking about the opening of the new Cliffs of Moher store, Niall O’Callaghan, Managing Director of Shannon Heritage said “We are delighted to be able to open a new store at the Cliffs of Moher that will provide over 1.5 million visitors a year the opportunity to buy what the best of Co. Clare has to offer. Supporting local artisan suppliers has always been central to our company ethos and this new reimagined store reemphasises that.
Great credit must go to our Shannon Group team of people who worked on this incredible and innovative design with our partners in Synnot Design and Store Design. We are also grateful for the continued support of the operators of the Cliffs, Clare County Council. We are delighted that the shop will stock the work of so many talented craftspeople and will provide so many unique and interesting products that I am sure will be very popular with visitors to the Cliffs.”
Visit www.shannonheritage.com for more information