Review: Wild Rover Tours Cliffs of Moher
During a trip to Dublin Ireland, I was scheduled to review a Cliffs of Moher tour with Wild Rover Tours. This was a full day excursion across the island to the world famous cliffs. It included several points of interest along the way with a stop for lunch in Ennis and a visit to Bunratty Castle. We arrived at 6:45am for a 7am departure from a coffee shop down by the River Liffey.
Cliffs of Moher Tour Wild Rover
No trip to Ireland is complete without visiting the countryside. Our tour guide Dermot has been driving tours for over twenty years. In 2024, he was honored as one of Ireland’s top 3 Best Coach drivers. Prior to our departure, he went over our itinerary, so we all knew the plan for the day. Dermot’s love of Ireland was immediately apparent.
Wild Rover Tours
Wild Rover Tours has a fleet of buses and mini vans. So, they are able to accommodating large groups during peak season while also offering private tours for smaller groups. Our visit was during the shoulder season, and we ended up on a large comfortable bus with only ten other people. So, there was plenty of room to spread out.
Dermot pointed out attractions on our way out of Dublin, and he kept us laughing with all his jokes. He was quite the character. He intrigued us with humorous stories as well as poignant sad ones, all mixed with a bit of Ireland’s history. His route for the day took us through several small villages. We witnessed and learned about the stacked stone walls we had seen in photos. We also had a good look at the wild limestone landscapes of the Burren (see pix above).
Lisdoonvarna’s Matchmaking Festival
As we drove through Lisdoonvarna, we learned of an annual matchmaking festival that started back in 1857. The month long festival takes place every September and attracts all ages looking for love. It sounds like a fun month long party with activities all day and through the night.
Cliffs of Moher
From there we continued on the the Cliffs of Moher. When Dermot mentioned that the cliffs have their own micro climate, I saw a look of concern on my husband’s face. It was not raining, but it looked like it could at any time. Richard loves to witness and photograph the earth’s most dramatic natural features. So, the idea that poor visibility might obstruct our view had him a bit on edge. Fortunately, the weather turned out to be pretty nice. We enjoyed well over an hour of time at the cliffs which were indeed awe inspiring. These cliffs are a popular attraction, so be prepared to share your experience with lots of people from all over the world. Consider a private custom tour with Wild Rover for more control over your itinerary. You may be able to stay at the cliff after the other tours leave.
Our musical playlist for our entire journey included a mix of traditional Irish music as well as popular music from Irish bands. At one point, Dermot stopped the music to tell us a bit about some Irish lingo. Like if someone asks you to take a craic on their hooker. (which sounded like a crack on their hooker), just say “Sure I would love to take a ride on your boat. “ We also learned of the righteous Daniel O’Connell who fought for equality and liberty for all.
The Story of Michael Rice
On our way to Ennis, we stopped at the Ennistymon Union Famine Workhouse Memorial and learned the story of Michael Rice of Lahinch. Dermot told us the sordid sad story of the horrific famine, when the residents of Ireland began staying in work camps with very little food as payment. Michael Rice was a 4 year old boy whose father died at the camp. Then just a few days later his mother perished. As the legend goes, the poor boy was left alone outside the camp never to be heard of again. The story is mostly buried in history, and the memorial is not a common tour stop. This was a devastating time for the Irish people. It was however a time in human history which should never be forgotten.
Along this drive, we also saw the Cascading Waters of Ennistymon. From there it was just a short drive to Ennis, where we stopped for our meal. This was a small charming town with a handful of shops, businesses and a few places to eat. Most of us went straight to Alexander Knox & Co., where Dermot had recommended specific selections from the menu.
Best Fish Chowder at Alexander Knox & Co.
After taking his advice, Richard enjoyed a huge burger made from fresh local beef, while I selected the Fish Chowder. Both were fabulous. But the Fish Chowder was just layered with flavor – so good. Our time in Ennis was just long enough for a relaxed meal and a quick look at the town. On our way out, we stopped to meet Antoinette at the local candy shop, where we picked up some sweet treats for the ride home. Then it was off to Bunratty Castle.
Bunratty Castle
Most tours from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher stop at Galway City. Stopping in Ennis gave us a chance to see a great little Irish town, meet some friendly locals and still have time to visit and enjoy some time at Bunratty Castle. When we arrived our tour guide, dressed in the garb of the times, told us about the attraction. The castle was built around 1425 and was originally the stronghold of the O’Brien Clan. We climbed the towers for a view of the city below but skipped the dungeon and the two murder holes (where intruders died by hot oil). Apparently, the castle hosts a show with meal on the weekends for those who want emerge themselves in the history. Alas we boarded the bus and off we went back to Dublin. https://www.bunrattycastle.ie/
In addition to telling us about much of the history of Ireland, both the sad and the whimsical, the tour featured stunning images that will be imprinted on my memory forever.
Do yourself a favor, take the Wild Rover Cliffs of Moher tour. The views are astounding, and the experience is quite moving. Visit the website for more info – https://wildrovertours.com/
CLICK HERE to read more articles about Ireland. We also encourage our readers to visit Dublin’s official tourism website at https://www.visitdublin.com/ as well as Ireland’s website – https://www.ireland.com/
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