The Cliffs of Moher ledge, where two mountain bikers performed a dangerous stunt, has collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean.
The ledge was the site of a daredevil stunt performed by Hans Rey and Steve Peat in 2006. A series of photos showing the two mountain bikers cycling along the 65-foot stretch of cliffs 700 ft above the sea created controversy after being posted on Facebook.
Last week, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor’s Center and North Clare Fine Gael councillor Martin Conway asked Facebook to remove the images, fearing that the photographs could encourage visitors to behave in a similar manner.
The collapse of the ledge has sparked new warnings about stepping outside the secure areas of the attraction.
"This just goes to show how dangerous the cliffs can be if people don't stay within the safety zones. We have all seen the photographs of people walking and cycling along that ledge and now it is gone,” said Katherine Webster, director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.
"It just highlights the fragility of the cliff edge and how large chunks of the cliff can fall away at any time.
"A large section of that ledge has now fallen into the sea in one of the many naturally occurring rock falls which take place at the cliffs.
"A few weeks ago, we caught the aftermath of a rock fall on camera. You can see the dust rising more than halfway up the cliffs."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Liz Lundon | May 07, 2013, 04:55 AM EDT
My husband and I were in Ireland during December - January 2013, sorry we did not get to see the Cliffs - ran out of time!!
PolinDeB | Nov 10, 2010, 07:03 PM EST
@George Dillion or their 10 euro car park in the middle of no-where ;0 We used to picnic on the ledges... it was lovely... and if it happened to fall into the sea at that moment.. well... we spend too much time protecting people...
Towngate | Nov 10, 2010, 09:45 AM EST
After what happened to the earth's original land mass "Pangea" it is not surprising that the sea is still nibbling away. Is it the end for beginning of the end for Ireland? - "No" - says yer man " Sure'tis just the thin end of the ledge".
Liamkeyes | Nov 10, 2010, 09:23 AM EST
Nature has to take its course. Backa few years ago in New Hampshire "The Old Man of the Mountain' formation collapsed, it was a major tourist attraction in the State, The authorities researched into having it "repaired". However the cost was prohibitive so they just had to leave it be. Man cannot fight and expect to beat nature.
GeorgeDillon | Nov 09, 2010, 02:15 PM EST
Too bad the local idiots didn't build their dopey "interpretation center" on that ledge.
hootntye | Nov 09, 2010, 11:05 AM EST
Wow, pay attention!
Newrone | Sep 27, 2010, 07:17 PM EDT
Ah, they were alright as long as they didn't look down ;-)
2IFBYSEA | Sep 04, 2010, 01:46 PM EDT
very sad.....
shidoobe | Aug 18, 2010, 12:19 PM EDT
This is sad, at least no one was hurt!
johnrogj | Aug 10, 2010, 03:34 PM EDT
in 2003 our tour bus driver said "we were welcome to go as close to the cliffs as we liked,but just remember every couple of hundred years part of the cliffs collapse, today could be the day". kinda made as think a bit
starwatts | Aug 09, 2010, 09:25 PM EDT
vertigo is setting in just looking at them...geez.
DanSpence | Aug 09, 2010, 10:25 AM EDT
irishcentral - Why don't you replace the photo of the idiots with a photo of the rockfall or current view of the cliffs?
jacersisityourself | Aug 08, 2010, 06:00 PM EDT
Ms.Gail - The Irish Independent newspaper published this story today, Sunday. The report included a photo of the dust cloud captured on camera a few weeks back when a diffrent piece of the cliff's rock face fell into the sea. Google irishindependent.ie, look for the report and see the photo for yrself.
Kathleen55 | Aug 08, 2010, 04:33 PM EDT
I was awe-struck when I viewed the Cliffs on a 1982 visit to Ireland - but I was also terrified of falling even when standing hundreds of feet back from the safety line!!! Some people will do anything for a thrill.
Ms.Gail | Aug 08, 2010, 01:59 PM EDT
So where is it one can see the dust rising more than halwayup the cliffs?
killowen | Aug 08, 2010, 10:02 AM EDT
Brilliant loonies.