Its now €6 to look over the Cliffs of Moher

Run_to_da_hills · 30-06-2010 10:29PM #1

for What was once an natural unspoilt asset to the West of Ireland has now turned into a loss making white elephant. Yes the interpretive center at the Cliffs of Moher which has now cost the Irish tax payer millions.

Firstly numbers have fallen since they introduced the rip off e8 car park charge, now to kill it off altogether they have now decided to charge you e6 just to view the cliffs.

As someone who has lived in the area, it was once a place for locals to take a Sunday stroll and a snack at the coffee shop, not any more, e12 is a lot to spend for a couple on a 30 minute afternoon walk. (Even if they do not want to go into the interpretive center)

It will still get its fair share of foreign tourists but that will not be enough to keep the center and coffee shop afloat during the off season months.

Talk about shooting something in the foot.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/now-its-euro6-to-visit-cliffs-of-moher-2239552.html

Kristopherus · 30-06-2010 10:36PM

Did you hear the furore on Liveline today. If not try listening to the podcast over the next few days.

Davidth88 · 01-07-2010 07:35AM

I totally agree that is a complete and utter ripoff !

The 8 euro charge for parking is crazy anyway.

Do the council own all the land on top of the cliffs ?

touts · 01-07-2010 07:43AM

I'm sure it cost a fortune to run that massive slate lined scar (aka path) the length of the cliffs. There are roads in this country that aren't that wide. How they got permission to vandalise the cliffs like that I'll never know.

01-07-2010 01:47PM

It a complete change in theior charging structure.

Car Park will now be free, and the €6 per adult charge (kids free) includes the exhibition.

Problem is newpapers only report selective parts of the changes.

Up to now, a car with 2 people that wanted to see exhibition & cliffs paid €17.90. Now it will cost the same couple €12.

On the other hand a famuly of 4 that only looked at the cliffs pay €8 now for car park, but from end of July will pay €12, but can also see atlantic edge exhibition.

When the FULL detail is read, it quite a different story.

paddy328i · 01-07-2010 01:50PM

Yea but the vast majority of people going there have no interest in going into the visitor centre. Have you been in it? I have and it is a waste of time. Just go out and look at the cliffs!

01-07-2010 02:03PM

paddy328i wrote: »

Yea but the vast majority of people going there have no interest in going into the visitor centre. Have you been in it? I have and it is a waste of time. Just go out and look at the cliffs!

That's an opinion - if it was €2 to go around the Atlantic Edge, I'd say its good value and taht's efefctively what they are doing - charging €6 per person to INCLUDE parking, viewing the cliffs, viewing Atlantic edge exhibition & access to the tower. + Kids are Free.

If one adult brings 3 kids, the total cost of everyting is €6, 2 adults & total cost is €12.

paddy328i · 01-07-2010 02:07PM

True but with a car of 4 adults (I assume teenagers are classed as adults) then the cost is €24. When it would have been €8 to see the cliffs. Well, maybe another €8 to see the exhibition.

AFAIK, the tower isn't included in the charge, you still have to pay extra again for that.

Mini Driver · 01-07-2010 02:08PM

what exactly is in the visitor centre? I bet its a whole load of pictures of the view from the cliffs and then a big gift shop selling tweed caps and walking sticks and Guiness merchandise...

Or am I wrong and its actually a wonderfully informative information hub for the region and warmly promotes Ireland's rich cultural history??

paddy328i · 01-07-2010 02:10PM

You have no idea how accurately you have described it!

The first paragraph that is . . . .. . .

01-07-2010 02:25PM

Its terribly touristy - Slieve League in northwest donegal beat cliffs of moher by a nautical mile - higher & more spectacular and you can get close to the edge.

My gripe is about the way this is reported to suit Irish Independent's "lets put a negative slant on everything" style of reporting.

Too many tourists get caught out at cliffs of moher thinking they mut poay car parking + also must buy ticket for exhibition - a charge at every turn attitude. This is fairer (€5 would have been better) and is a single charge for a well managed if very tourist oriented facility. (excellent acess, security, first aid etc etc)

Mini Driver · 01-07-2010 02:29PM

paddy328i wrote: »

You have no idea how accurately you have described it!

The first paragraph that is . . . .. . .

lol ... the old standard Irish visitor centre template is alive and well I see

Run_to_da_hills · 01-07-2010 03:33PM

91011 wrote: »

It a complete change in theior charging structure.

Car Park will now be free, and the €6 per adult charge (kids free) includes the exhibition.

Problem is newpapers only report selective parts of the changes.

Up to now, a car with 2 people that wanted to see exhibition & cliffs paid €17.90. Now it will cost the same couple €12.

On the other hand a famuly of 4 that only looked at the cliffs pay €8 now for car park, but from end of July will pay €12, but can also see atlantic edge exhibition.

When the FULL detail is read, it quite a different story.

It would now cost four adults €24 instead of €8 to view the cliffs and that other thing.

The Interprative center is a place you go to once and not everytime you want to go for a strole at the cliffs.

01-07-2010 03:45PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

It would now cost four adults €24 instead of €8 to view the cliffs and that other thing.

The Interprative center is a place you go to once and not everytime you want to go for a strole at the cliffs.

maybe they should have an annual pass for about €30 for locals, similar to national stud (€70 for family for year).

Ghandee · 01-07-2010 04:58PM

Mini Driver wrote: »

what exactly is in the visitor centre? I bet its a whole load of pictures of the view from the cliffs and then a big gift shop selling tweed caps and walking sticks and Guiness merchandise...

Or am I wrong and its actually a wonderfully informative information hub for the region and warmly promotes Ireland's rich cultural history??

I was actually there this day last week, and your description couldn't be better!
are you sure you've never been lol?

Also have to agree with previous poster, my wife and I were charged 12€ which included parking and entrance to a theatre yoke of A thing that showed how the cliffs were formed and followed a seagull through the air.

If it wasn't so boring, I'd have said it was interesting

The cliffs however, were BEAUTIFUL, and we couldn't have had nicer weather for the day!

Duckjob · 02-07-2010 12:22AM

So, in a nutshell, if you're going to see the visitor centre, it's probably better value than before. If however, a car of 4 or 5 people arrive just wanting to walk the cliffs, they're going to get reamed.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but the charge is collected at the entrance to the car park.

What is to stop:

- a car full of people pulls up just outside the entrance to the car park.
- everyone jumps out except the driver.
- the driver drives in and parks the car. That'll be 6euro please.
- The driver meets up with the rest of the party and head off to see the Cliffs.

Pot Noodle = · 02-07-2010 12:27AM

91011 wrote: »

Its terribly touristy - Slieve League in northwest donegal beat cliffs of moher by a nautical mile - higher & more spectacular and you can get close to the edge.

My gripe is about the way this is reported to suit Irish Independent's "lets put a negative slant on everything" style of reporting.

Too many tourists get caught out at cliffs of moher thinking they mut poay car parking + also must buy ticket for exhibition - a charge at every turn attitude. This is fairer (€5 would have been better) and is a single charge for a well managed if very tourist oriented facility. (excellent acess, security, first aid etc etc)

Much better and free for now

Pikasso · 02-07-2010 12:47AM

The rot started with the exorbitant car park charges.

People stopped going.

Clare Co. Council started losing money.

Prices went up.

Less people will now go.

White Elephant!

Rip off Ireland.

Will my simple analysis get through to the eejits that run things?

No.

Pot Noodle = · 02-07-2010 01:45AM

Pikasso wrote: »

The rot started with the exorbitant car park charges.

People stopped going.

Clare Co. Council started losing money.

Prices went up.

Less people will now go.

White Elephant!

Rip off Ireland.

Will my simple analysis get through to the eejits that run things?

No.

Public servant again

Run_to_da_hills · 02-07-2010 07:58AM

Duckjob wrote: »

So, in a nutshell, if you're going to see the visitor centre, it's probably better value than before. If however, a car of 4 or 5 people arrive just wanting to walk the cliffs, they're going to get reamed.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but the charge is collected at the entrance to the car park.

What is to stop:

- a car full of people pulls up just outside the entrance to the car park.
- everyone jumps out except the driver.
- the driver drives in and parks the car. That'll be 6euro please.
- The driver meets up with the rest of the party and head off to see the Cliffs.

No, apparently the car park will now be free, you pay by person across the road at a ticket booth. No doubt you will also have to produce this entering the theme park / gift shop and walking up towards the cliff.

Pikasso · 02-07-2010 10:15AM

Free car park?
Can picture the scenario now...
Small queue at the ticket desk and thousands walking the busy road and crossing the fields looking free alternative!
Nobody thought this one through.

Duckjob · 02-07-2010 11:06AM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

No, apparently the car park will now be free, you pay by person across the road at a ticket booth. No doubt you will also have to produce this entering the theme park / gift shop and walking up towards the cliff.

The director of the centre was asked by Joe Duffy where the charge would be collected, and she replied that it would be collected at the entrance to the car park, and that they would count the people in the car at that point. Presumably, each person gets a ticket there which grants them admission to the visitor centre as well.

She was also asked if it were possible that people could go see the Cliffs without paying, and she said they could if they weren't using the facilities (ie. the carpark).

They can't charge or bar people from walking to the Cliffs on foot as it is a right of way.

I foresee cars setting down groups of people where they can;t be charged and then just the driver parking the car. That's what I'd be doing if I was bringing a group to see the Cliffs only.

Pikasso · 02-07-2010 11:43AM

I find this very confusing:

"The director of the centre was asked by Joe Duffy where the charge would be collected, and she replied that it would be collected at the entrance to the car park,"

"She was also asked if it were possible that people could go see the Cliffs without paying, and she said they could if they weren't using the facilities (ie. the carpark)."

"No, apparently the car park will now be free, you pay by person across the road at a ticket booth."

"Up to now, a car with 2 people that wanted to see exhibition & cliffs paid €17.90. Now it will cost the same couple €12.
On the other hand a famuly of 4 that only looked at the cliffs pay €8 now for car park, but from end of July will pay €12, but can also see atlantic edge exhibition."

Where will the fee be collected?

Can someone who arrives on foot walk through the entrance and up to the cliffs for free?

Can I park my car for free in the car park?

touts · 02-07-2010 12:21PM

Well I suppose they had a choice of being more efficent or charging more. Typical public service they opted for the charge more option. Would love to see a lean analysis done on the operations there. One of the most famous tourist attractions in the world with thousands of people just arriving on their doorstep daily with little or no advertising and they can't make a profit on €8 per car.

02-07-2010 12:46PM

Pikasso wrote: »

Where will the fee be collected?

Can someone who arrives on foot walk through the entrance and up to the cliffs for free?

Can I park my car for free in the car park?

it seems that when entering the carpark a charge will be made based on the number of adults in the car. thats it.

If you arrive on foot, then you can walk in.

A few people will avoid the charges, but its done on the basis that most people are honest. Same with National Stud - loads of palces you can jump a small wall & get in, but most people pay at gate.

Duckjob · 02-07-2010 03:00PM

91011 wrote: »

it seems that when entering the carpark a charge will be made based on the number of adults in the car. thats it.

If you arrive on foot, then you can walk in.

A few people will avoid the charges, but its done on the basis that most people are honest. Same with National Stud - loads of palces you can jump a small wall & get in, but most people pay at gate.

Hang on a second.

They actually have no business charging people who are only there to walk the Cliffs. Yet, that is what they are deliberately doing - hitting those people to cover their own lack of efficiency in running the visitor centre.

Secondly, they are the ones being dishonest marketing this as a car-park charge. B****x. A car parking charge should be just that - a charge to park the car. This is Irish cute-hoorism at its worst.

Thirdly, it's none of their goddamn business if I drop people from my car onto the roads outside the Cliffs. I pay to tax, insure and fuel my car and I can damn well pick people up and drop people off whereever I want on a public road.

/rant

Pikasso · 02-07-2010 04:33PM

Duckjob wrote: »

Hang on a second.

They actually have no business charging people who are only there to walk the Cliffs. Yet, that is what they are deliberately doing - hitting those people to cover their own lack of efficiency in running the visitor centre.

Secondly, they are the ones being dishonest marketing this as a car-park charge. B****x. A car parking charge should be just that - a charge to park the car. This is Irish cute-hoorism at its worst.

Thirdly, it's none of their goddamn business if I drop people from my car onto the roads outside the Cliffs. I pay to tax, insure and fuel my car and I can damn well pick people up and drop people off whereever I want on a public road.

/rant

+1

Pot Noodle = · 03-07-2010 08:42AM

91011 wrote: »

it seems that when entering the carpark a charge will be made based on the number of adults in the car. thats it.

If you arrive on foot, then you can walk in.

A few people will avoid the charges, but its done on the basis that most people are honest. Same with National Stud - loads of palces you can jump a small wall & get in, but most people pay at gate.

Got a map for the National Stud low walls:D haven't been there yet

Kintarō Hattori · 05-07-2010 03:31PM

Are the cliffs on private or public land?

Duckjob · 05-07-2010 03:42PM

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Are the cliffs on private or public land?

Public right-of-way.

They can charge whatever single rate they want for car parking, but they have absolutely no business charging "per person" for people to go and walk the cliffs. They don't "own" the cliffs.

I've no problem paying per person into the visitor centre. However, I would have no qualms about offloading my passengers outside if just going to the Cliffs.

the groutch · 07-07-2010 03:08PM

they're trying to find a way of charging for something they legally have no right to charge for

they can charge for parking (assuming they own that land), and they can charge admission to the centre, but that's it

unfortunately they have misrepresented it as them effectively owning the cliffs, and they'll get their money off the majority of tourists

Its now €6 to look over the Cliffs of Moher

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