AboutHugh O'Rourke Expertise I can answer questions about Ireland.
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Expert: Hugh O'Rourke Date: 6/30/2008 Subject: Someone to perform ceremony at Cliffss
Question QUESTION: My fiance and I wanted to plan a ceremony at the Cliffs of Moher with a ring exchange (not an official wedding) but someone to perform a life commitment ceremony. We are arriving in Dublin (from the states) on July 8th and should be at Cliffs of Moher by July 14 give or take a day. Please let me know if you have any info. Thank you
ANSWER: Hello Sharyn
thank you for choosing to visit Ireland.
The cliffs of Moher are a popular venue for people wishing to bless their commitments to each other and there is a very welcoming staff at the visitor centre.
As you will see from the details below, the staff are happy to give information freely without charge and they also have some fee-paying services available.
The answer to David was prepared in November 2007 so it is still fairly current.
At the website shown here, the situation on a morning of hazy sun is visible. In the afternoon/ evening time the cliffs would look better in photographs as they would be bathed in the sunlight from the West. On the other hand of course we cannot guarantee the weather but we being Irish can pray for sunlight.
I hope the contact details below will be of help and if you have any difficulty please contact me immediately and i will follow up.
I wish for both of you the fulfillment of all our most ambitious dreams and love and peace until the "Moon fails".
Answer
Hello David
Here is the update from the visitor centre.
Of course Ireland of the Welcomes now welcomes you to spend a couple of hundred euro on services at the Cliffs Venue but as Phoebe says you can do your own thing for free.
Nevertheless, without spending any money, it should be possible to get a reasonably good idea of how other couples using the beauty of the cliffs have found conditions there by corresponding with the centre.
The contact details and other details were sent to me as follows:
Hello Hugh,
Please find attached details of wedding options available at the Cliffs of Moher. Please contact us with any further queries to info@cliffsofmoher .ie
Regards,
Phoebe Larkin CSA,
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre,
Liscannor,
Co Clare.
Ph +353 65 7086140
Cliffs of Moher Wedding Blessings
The Cliffs of Moher are a fabulous and romantic location to hold your wedding blessing. Holding your special day surrounded by the wild beauty of the Cliffs and the majesty of the Atlantic Ocean will make for a wonderful experience and memory for all concerned. Of course, you are welcome to come to the Cliffs of Moher can do your own thing but now that we have a range of fantastic new facilities at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience we can offer a number of options that can help make the day all the more special and comfortable for the entire party.
General Information
While there is no requirement to notify us if you decide to make your own arrangements we would appreciate knowing that you are going to be here. From time to time for security or safety reasons we have to close certain areas of the cliffedge and if you speak to us in advance we can advise if there is any planned activity on the day you are considering. There are also some regulations in relation to the Cliffs of Moher Special Protected Area that you should be aware of:
• Under the Wildlife Act there is a restriction on loud or amplified music within 500 metres of the cliff side due to the impact on the wildlife and in particular seabirds. Most un-amplified instruments are acceptable but Scottish bagpipes are not permitted in the area under this restriction. Uilleann pipes are usually acceptable. If there is any doubt please do not hesitate to contact us.
• The area beyond the visitor walkways and walls are part of the special protected area and are not accessible to the public. The open cliff edge is also extremely dangerous due to cliff falls and erosion on an ongoing basis as well as unpredictable winds even on seemingly calm days. Cliffs of Moher Rangers patrol the visitor areas and will ask visitors not to cross the walls or go beyond the designated visitor areas. Although there are evident dirt tracks along the open cliff edge towards Hags Head (south) and Doolin (north) beyond the visitor paths these are on private property and are extremely hazardous. Even visitors who feel they can keep themselves safe beyond the barriers should consider this very careful as this also encourages other people to follow suit who may not be able to do so. There are plenty of space within the visitor areas for excellent views, excellent photos and where a wedding blessing can be located. We would ask your co-operation in this.
• Even if you are not availing of any of the options we can provide we are here to help make things easier for you. Feel free to give us a call on the day or ahead of time to check weather predictions or numbers of visitors expected onsite.
Times of Day/Week/Year when these options can be provided
Wedding blessing options can be provided at the following times:
June, July, August & September 8.00am to 10.00am daily
5.00pm to 9.00pm weekdays
6.00pm to 9.00pm weekends
April, May & October 9.00am to 12.00am & 4.00pm to 7.00pm weekends
9.00am to 7pm on weekdays
Other months 9.00am to 6pm on weekdays
9.00am to 11.00am & 3.00pm to 6pm weekends
Please check with us if you have another time in mind and we can advise on the possibilities.
Wedding Car drop off/collection at coach drop off area on Cliffs side of the road – the carpark is on the opposite side of the road from the Cliffs. A standard visit covered by the €8.00 Facilities Charge per car would involve the bride and groom’s car parking in the carpark and walking across the pedestrian crossing to the cliff edge (about 500 metres). We can provide drop off, parking and pick up for the wedding car and immediate wedding party (upto a maximum of 6 cars) to the coach park. This can be provided at a Facilities Charge rate of €19.50 per car. Additional wedding party cars could park in the carpark under the standard Facilities Charge rate.
Dedicated Area for Blessing
Outdoor Area – we can provide a cordoned off area for the wedding party at either O’Brien’s Tower (outside the tower) or the Hags Head viewing platform (raised platform with views of O’Brien’s Tower, Goat Island & the Aran Islands) that allows the wedding party a dedicated area for the blessing ceremony. A limited amount of picnic bench style seating can be provided for older guests (approx 24 seats). Staff would ensure that the area is secured from public access. This is available at restricted times – please check for details This can be provided at a cost of €240 for a two hour period.
Indoor Area – we can provide our stunning exhibition dome with the Clare Journey aerial tour of County Clare running on a giant screen for a private ceremony. (Please note that this area can be overlooked from the public part of the visitor centre). The theatre has a virtual reality impression of the cliff edge that simulates standing at the edge of the cliffs on a sunny day that can be paused at an appropriate point for the duration of the ceremony. Wedding guests will also have an opportunity for a private visit to the entire Atlantic Edge exhibition housed with the domed centre of the underground visitor centre. This is available from 6pm onwards. It can be provided at a base cost of €340 which includes upto 10 members of the wedding party plus a further €10 per head for any additional wedding party members.
For small wedding groups of no more than 16 people we can provide access to O’Brien’s Tower (subject to advance booking and weather conditions) for wedding blessings. The first floor area of the Tower provides a beautiful space for a wedding blessing with a turf fire burning in the fireplace and a glimpse through the windows of the wild Cliffs outside. The viewing area on top of the tower which provides a stunning view of the surrounding area would be available for photos subject to weather conditions. The cost for O’Brien’s Tower for a two hour period starts at €1000. Please note that catering in the tower is also a possibility.
In the event that a catering option in the Long Dock restaurant is booked (see below) then an area within the restaurant can also be reserved for the wedding blessing itself. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the stunning new underground visitor centre building. A key feature is the two large panoramic windows providing stunning views towards the Cliffs and Hags Head from one window and to Liscannor Bay from the other.
Golf Buggy transport for bride & groom from the Visitor Centre entrance to O’Brien’s Tower or Hags Head. The bride and groom can make an arrival in style to the cliff edge for their blessing ceremony onboard the Cliffs of Moher golf buggy driven by a member of the Cliffs of Moher team. This also covers a return trip for the bride & groom to
their wedding car when the drop off/collection service is selected. In addition the golf buggy can transport any older or less mobile members of the wedding party to and from the dedicated area (reasonable use policy applies). This is available at a rate of €150.
Catering options available.
Options include Champagne or wine reception including finger food
served at the dedicated blessing area or in a section of the Long Dock first floor restaurant (minimum & maximum numbers apply)
Seated wedding breakfast in the Long Dock restaurant
Seated wedding lunch in the Long Dock restaurant
Seated wedding supper in the Long Dock restaurant
Music
Cliffs of Moher Centre Ltd. can put you in contact with traditional musicians who can provide you with musical accompaniment to your special occasion. All arrangements would be made directly between you and the musicians and we provide contact information only. Musical options include the celtic harp, tin whistle, concertina, concert flute, guitar and banjo. You are welcome to provide your own music but please note that bagpipes are not permitted at the Cliffs of Moher between 1st April and 30th September as they breach the decibel level restrictions provided under the Wildlife Act during the seabird nesting season. (Uilleann pipes are permitted.)
Wedding memento gifts
We can provide a range of exclusive personalised gifts to provide to members of the wedding party as a memento of the Conference Opening. Eg. Moher slate personalised coaster, incense burner, paperweights or small framed picture. Please note that these gifts are an exclusive range to the Cliffs of Moher. Prices range from €10 to €30 per gift depending on items selected and personalisation required.
Contact info
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience
Cliffs of Moher
Co. Clare
IRELAND
Email: info@cliffsofmoher.ie bookings@cliffsofmoher.ie
Telephone:
Bookings line +353 65 7086146
Main Line: +353 65 7086141
Fax. +353 65 7086142
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Since it will only be the two of us we are looking for someone that can perform the ceremony at the Cliffs of Moher approx July 15th in the evening. Please let me know if you have any one. Thanks
Answer Dear Sharyn
Apologies for delay. I cannot find anyone close to the cliffs who would perform the ceremomy. According to the people in the visitor centre all couples either bring the celebrant with them or arrange privately for a celebrant and they could not give me the name of a potential celebrant.
. As i do not live close to the area I do not have a contact in any church community there.
The visitor centre people said that on occasion, a priest from the Aran islands has been the celebrant of ceremonies at the cliffs. The contact details are at http://www.daramolloy.com/CelticWedOnAran.html but as you can see from that website, even on his home island he is not cheap!! To reach the cliffs he would have a couple of hours travel , part of which is by passenger boat.
There will be many people visiting the cliffs on the day and a friendly approach to some likely couple could well provide you with witnesses who would be honoured to participate.
If you had the certicates pre-preared the signing and witnessing would be strightforward.
I do hope you find a good solution to this hurdle in your joyful journey and I very much regret that no ready made service is available at the location.
kind regards
hugh
