Moher Tower, Napoleonic watchtower at Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Moher Tower is a stone defensive structure at the southern end of the Cliffs of Moher featuring two rectilinear bartizans on its eastern wall and one on its western side. The building originally stood two stories tall and served to shelter visitors from Atlantic storms while they walked the coastal paths below the cliffs.
The tower was built in 1808 during the Napoleonic Wars to replace an earlier fortification called Mothar that stood on the same site. Stone from the dismantled earlier structure was reused in the new construction.
The tower was part of Ireland's coastal defense network, and its Irish name Túr an Mhothair ties together the area's history with the linguistic traditions of County Clare's maritime communities.
The site is best reached via the southern cliff path that starts from the main visitor area and runs along the coastline. Visitors should prepare for changeable weather and uneven terrain, as the exposed location experiences frequent Atlantic winds and storms.
Red-billed choughs nest within the remains of this ruined structure particularly during summer months, bringing wild bird life to the historical site. This bird species is increasingly rare across Ireland and depends on such old coastal structures for breeding grounds.
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