This article is from page 10 of the 2013-11-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
GUSTS of up to 130 kilometres per hour forced the closure of the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience this Saturday as management deemed that it was unsafe for staff and tourists to visit the 700-foot-tall cliffs.
Hurricane force winds lashed the Clare coast on Saturday afternoon, with staff beginning the process of evacuating the world famous tourist attraction from 3pm. The facility was completely evacuated at 4.30pm and remained closed until Sunday morning – when weather conditions had improved dramatically.
This is just the sixth time in the last seven years that bad weather forced the closure of the Cliffs of Moher. The attraction has seen a marked increase in tourism number in 2013 and could be posed to break the one million tourism mark for the first time since 2007.
While the average wind speed recorded at the Cliffs was a 70 kilometers per hour or gale force winds, gusts of between 110 and 130 kilometres per hour were recorded, which qualify as storm or hurricane force winds.
“At 9.15am on Saturday morning Met Eireann issued an Orange weather warning predicting winds with mean speeds of 70 kilometres per hour with gusts of between 110 and 130 kilometres per hour,” said Cliffs of Moher director Katherine Webster yesterday.
“Warning signs were erected at the Cliffs, warning visitors to proceed with caution as conditions were hazardous. Around lunchtime conditions deteriorated rapidly and new signs were put up warning visitors not to proceed as conditions were too dangerous to visit the Cliffs.
“Soon after 3pm in worsening conditions the manager on duty took the decision to close the centre and assist visitors who were still onsite to leave the site safely. AA Roadwatch was advised and booked groups were also notified. “The last staff left site at approximately 4.45pm on Saturday. On Sunday, conditions had improved and the visitor centre opened as normal at 9am.”
Management at the cliffs employ a flag system to warm visitors of danger. A white flag signaling dangerous weather is is flown when winds in excess of 30 km per hour are recorded.
When winds of more than 50 kilometres per hour are recorded visitors are advised not to venture onto the cliff walks. Winds of more than 100 kilometres per hours trigger the cliffs “Red Protocol” which entails the evacuation all staff and visitors.