the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher

We were in the area of the Burren for 2 days. The first passing through to the cliffs of Moher.  the Burren is an area of limestone hills. 6000 years ago there were trees and grass covering the underlying rock, but the first settlers cut down the trees and their cattle ate the fragile grass, so that now all the rock is exposed. Over the years a combination of water n the limestone has eroded the Burren so that there the rock is cracked and drilled. Holes an cracks everywhere. Gricks and Gracks they are called. Wildflowers abound in the holes that have accumulated a little dirt. 

This area is along the coast so the winds and salt spray from the Atlantic continue to effect the area. We headed inland a bit and found a castle set back from the road.

This one looked like it might have been in recent use as there was glass in the windows.  And in the distance we see the Cliffs of Moher

These cliffs are 800 feet high  and extend 8 km along the coast south of Doolin and are now home to countless birds including puffins, gannets, kitiwakes, gulls. We saw the cliffs from the ocean and then on top. We had a boat ride scheduled at noon and although it was a sunny day the winds were nice and strong and the seas running 4 to 5 feet. A rocky ride out and back to the cliffs.

I went to the top of O'Brien's castle but the ramparts blocked some of the view from the top. nice circular staircase going up. O'Brien's castle was built as a lookout tower in 1835.