A PILOT bus service for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher is expected to commence at the beginning of May and “will only work if people use the bus”.
In a new pilot project between Clare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the free ‘Burren and Cliffs Explorer’ will be operating this summer from May 1st to August 31st with the potential to extend into September.
Prior to this, public consultation and engagement sessions will be held in Miltown Malbay on Monday (April 7th) and Tuesday (April 8th). Those attending must register in advance at https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/cliffs-of-moher-shuttle-bus. Both sessions take place from 5pm to 7pm at Miltown Malbay Community Centre on Monday and at the Burren Centre in Kilfenora on Tuesday.
Corofin, Carron, Kilfenora, Doolin, Liscannor and Lahinch will be served by the shuttle bus along with the hub locations of Lisdoonvarna and Miltown Malbay, where free car parking will be provided. The scheduled service will also serve landmark attractions such as the Burren National Park and the Cliffs of Moher Experience.
Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) welcomed the “potentially transformative initiative” but asked Clare Tourism, Clare County Council and Fáilte Ireland for “a clear plan and partnership with host communities, towns and villages where the shuttle will visit and have bases. Each area’s selling point must be promoted to match “the top class visitor experience at other sides owned by Clare County Council. This host community base and approach is absolutely necessary to set this potentially transformative initiative up for success from the outset”.
Director of Service for Tourism Development, Siobhán McNulty said the partnership “will deliver a sustainable transport solution on a pilot basis in North Clare serving tourists and host communities”. She said the project “is following a procurement process and will be delivered subject to contract”. The upcoming sessions “will inform the service and help shape the experience development on board the coaches. An onboard visitor experience plan will be developed to include in person welcome and supported by video. An extensive marketing plan is being actively worked on to promote the service, assets of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Experiences as well as the unique attributes of each of the towns and villages to ensure there is maximum economic benefit”.
Speaking at a meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) said there was potential to tie in both the Michael Cusack Centre and Lemenagh Castle as potential stops along the route while linking in with Ballyvaughan. “There’s plenty parking in Kilfenora, space could be created by engineers in order to accommodate meeting of two bus routes,” he said. A safe pick-up already exists at Lemenagh Castle but he stressed the importance of frequency, “if you’re coming from Japan waiting thirty minutes in the rain for a bus it won’t encourage you to come again”.
Seconding Cllr Garrrihy’s motion, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) believed it was “a positive story for North Clare. There is an awful lot of bits to it, the time is tight for this season, we can’t afford to get this wrong because this has to remain a positive news story, we don’t want an own goal on this”.
Public consultation events are likely to miss out on the target audience of tourists who will be using the Burren and Cliffs Explorer, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) noted.
Addressing the meeting, McNulty outlined that “a lot” of consultation has occurred directly and on an individual basis, this has “predominantly” been led by Geraldine Enright and the Cliffs of Moher Experience team, she advised. “This has to work, we’re not looking for own goals, we have a number of irons in the fire, there’s a transport plan, bus routes and supporting other tourist attractions. It is not just about the Cliffs of Moher site, it is about the other attractions, we are amenable to extending a bus service from Lemenagh on R480 to pick up those attractions including Caherconnel, Poulnabrone and Ailwee Caves”. This pilot is aimed to “support tourism companies without compromising anything,” the Director stated. She said, “this is a pilot for 2025 and 2026, we absolutely want it to work and it will only work if people use the bus, they don’t it will be consolidated because ultimately it is taxpayers money going into this”.
