A much-awaited trip to the Cliffs of Moher

There’s just something about standing on a cliff and looking into the horizons. The ocean seems endless, the sky seems perpetual, and life, for those few minutes, seems like it’s exactly how it should be. As poetic as it sounds, it is exactly at this moment when you think about all the things that had to conspire for you to be standing in front of such breathtaking beauty.

My obsession with the Cliffs of Moher started the moment I watched the much loved rom-com, “Leap Year”. This Amy Adams and Matthew Goode starrer was my first good look at Ireland and I remember thinking to myself then that this was definitely on the list of “must visit places, as seen in the movies” (this is a long list, mind you!). Imagine my excitement when I found out that this was the first trip organised by UL Student Life during Orientation Week. Irish Luck, indeed!

The build-up to the cliffs, which were the final stop in the trip was just as amazing. We visited Lahinch, a beautiful beach that somehow echoed Westlife’s “My Love” in my head and The Burren, which was just so inexplicably mind-blowing that I just kept thinking, could this get any better? I totally recommend visiting The Burren to all the Indiana Jones fans. The rock configurations could totally pass off as the “bridge” in the “leap of faith” scene. All you need is the imagination and a friend with a camera who can hum the Indiana Jones theme song!

The Cliffs of Moher was the perfect end to the day. Skies were grey and there was even a bit of rain, but that didn’t stop us from climbing to the very top of the cliffs. I remember, every few minutes, I just stopped to see the waves crashing against the rocks at the bottom. It was truly a sight to behold. The water was a deep blue and every now and then, you could see a sheen of grey, reflecting the sky. The climb was not easy. As we got higher, the wind grew stronger and we had to hold on to our hats, literally!

When we finally got to the highest point of the cliffs, the moment felt surreal. I remember feeling overwhelmed and just took a second to process every sight and sound. I sat down and thought to myself that I was finally here, and it was so much better than I imagined it – even better than Leap Year’s Declan and Anna standing at the cliffs at sunset. Okay, maybe I took that a bit too far, but I assure you, it was close!

The walk down was relatively easier. We had help from the wind, which pushed us down at an alarming but welcome, speed. On the way down, there were some browning pastures and I could not resist pulling a Maria von Trapp. Took a couple of “Sound of Music” worthy poses for the camera!

Visiting the Cliffs of Moher has been an unforgettable experience. Besides its beauty and splendour, it is a constant reminder that all great things take time to be created, stone by stone, boulder by boulder. The cliffs also stand testimony to the fact that nothing is perennial. What matters is, how much of a difference is made, while it still exists.