The search for a possible ‘boat in distress’ was called off last night after no trace of any vessel was found.
The alarm was raised at around 5.30pm when a member of the public reported seeing lights at sea believing to be a distress signal.
The Irish Coast Guard marine rescue coordination centre at Valentia in Kerry alerted the Doolin and Kilkee units of the volunteer service.
The Doolin team launched their boat and made their way to an area about 2 kilometres off Freagh Point.
Kilkee Coast Guard team also carried out a search between the White Strand and Hags head.
The Shannon based search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 115, was requested to assist. It had just taken off from Shannon to take part in a training exercise elsewhere when it was tasked.
Volunteer teams also carried out visual searches from the coast line however nothing was found.
It’s now believed the flashing lights seen from the shore was the sun reflecting off the boats windows as it returned to harbour.
A short time later, Coast Guard volunteers from Doolin were requested to respond to the Cliffs of Moher where a person was reported to be ‘in distress’.
Members of Ennistymon Gardaí, a Cliffs of Moher Ranger and Coast Guard members spoke with the person for a time before he was taken from the scene in a patrol car.