A key Co Clare visitor attraction is set to be closed, or at least partially closed, for the 2025 tourist season.
Last year, the Cliffs of Moher attracted almost 1.5 million visitors, but now the coastal walking trail beside it, which brings a big economic spin off for nearby rural areas, is out of action because it is not safe.
The grade 5 walking route, which is on a par with Carrauntoohil, shut last year after a Sport Ireland inspection.
There were a number of deaths on the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail last year.
Eoin Hogan of Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), which manages the trail, said the organisation did not expect the trail to reopen fully for the 2025 tourist season.
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Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said: "Last summer, Sport Ireland did their biennial assessment of the trail and there were safety issues highlighted.
"These issues needed to be dealt with before the trail could be reopened. We couldn't open the trail unless we did these works.
"It’s serious construction work that has to be done. The trail is too close to the edge in certain sections. The trail has to be moved back from the edge.
"We have to get landowner agreement, we have to get planning in place in terms of regulatory planning for those works, and Clare County Council are involved in working on those projects as well.
At the moment, CLDC manages the trail and both it and Clare County Council are negotiating with landowners to get agreement to get the work needed completed to make the walk safer.
Mr Hogan added that a new strategy for the trail will be published soon about the future of the trail and who will manage it.
Currently, CLDC, Sport Ireland, Clare County Council, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Community and Rural Development are all involved with the trail.
Section of trail opening this year is 'best case' - CLDC officer
Mr Hogan said the best scenario is that part of the 18km trail will open for the 2025 tourist season.
"The best case is that that the northern section trail opens. You will be open to walk from the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre to Doolin, or from Doolin to the centre," Mr Hogan said.
He added the southern section of the trail from the Centre to Hag’s Head will "definitely not" be open in 2025.
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Clare County Council confirmed that it does not expect the trail to reopen fully this year.
Its Director of Tourism Development, Siobhán McNulty, said talks are ongoing between CLDC, landowners and the council.
Ms McNulty said the trail is "unlikely to be open" in 2025 but that the council is "working diligently and hard in the background" to do everything it can to open the trail.
She added, however, that there are "significant obstacles".
The best scenario for 2025, Ms McNulty said, would be that there will be a section of the trail open.
That, she added, could be the part of the trail north of the Cliffs of Moher visitor experience site to Doolin.
Businesses concerned by extended closure of trail
Local businesses in Clare are concerned and they say job losses are possibly imminent.
They want the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail to reopen as soon as possible.
Ollie Gleeson of Ollie’s Tours, which employs ten walking guides, said he faces making his tour guides redundant.
"We as a business can't operate. At the moment we're having to cancel tours.
"I employ ten people. If this continues into the season all of them will be let go and I will be put out of business.
He added that at the moment, with the trail closed, he is "petrified" and putting on a brave face.
Anthony Moloney, owner of the Doolin Inn, a four-star modern country house accommodation, said the trail, when it was open, made a big difference to the local economy.
He said it is crucial for the walking trail to reopen because so many local jobs and tourist businesses depend on it.
"The trail is exceptionally important to my business. It's only one of the few things we have around here as an activity that's open all year. It brings tourists all year round," said Mr Moloney.
He added "the cliff walk" when it was open was "a game changer" for businesses like his.
Local IFA chairman, farmer, landowner and owner of the Doolin Cliff Walk Company, Pat Sweeney, said having the trail open is crucial.
"Any farmer that lives in the west of Ireland knows how difficult it is to survive on farming alone.
"Most of the farmers here in Doolin have an off-farm income. My off-farm income would be my walking business.
"We all rely on this trail big time. My business will not be opening up if the trail is closed on the Doolin side," said Mr Sweeney.
Mr Sweeney, who is involved with negotiations between landowners, the council and CLDC is hopeful there is a way forward with negotiations to get remediation and safety works done on the cliff walk.
Part of the negotiations centre on the level of payment farmers receive yearly for the use of their land as part of the trail.
"I'm involved in negotiations with the council and I do see a way forward here with the negotiations," he said.
In a statement, Sport Ireland said the trail is included on the National Trails Register and the Public Liability insurance policy for that is managed by Sport Ireland outdoors.
It said that following a Sport Ireland inspection of The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail, "a number of safety issues were identified along the trail".
"In agreement with Clare Local Development Company, which manages the trail, these issues were deemed serious enough to require urgent attention," the statement added.
"In managing these remedial works, Clare Local Development Company have structured their plans to allow sections of the trail to remain open while other parts are closed for renovations.
"This remains the situation. Clare Local Development Company have successfully addressed all safety issues in the areas of the trail that remain open.
"Sections of the trail with unresolved safety issues are now closed to the public until they are addressed," the Sport Ireland statement read.
The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail is owned by 38 farmers with the exception of commonage and 800 metres which are owned by Clare County Council.
Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development are also involved with the project but are not commenting.
Separately, Clare County Council is planning a free shuttle bus service to bring tourists from towns and villages in Clare to the Cliffs of Moher.
Ms McNulty said the shuttle service would bring people from these towns to the cliffs and admission to the Cliffs of Moher would also be free.
The service is currently out for tender and is expected to start by June.
This, the council hopes, will ensure a share of the near 1.5 million visitors who visit the cliffs each year will stay in local areas and help boost businesses in them.
