Cliffs chosen as Ireland's wonder

THE CLIFFS of Moher have been picked to represent Ireland in a bid to find the new seven wonders of nature.

The Co Clare attraction was among 261 global beauty spots which were chosen following an online public vote run by a private Swiss organisation. It will compete for a place in the top seven with well-known attractions such as the Grand Canyon, Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Amazon rainforest and the Galapagos Islands.

A spokeswoman for the visitor centre at the cliffs was delighted at the announcement.

"It is not surprising given the global recognition factor of the cliffs. They have been used by other Irish brands for promotion and as an iconic view of Ireland," said Katherine Webster, director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.

The 214-metre-high sea cliffs were the most visited natural attraction in Ireland in 2007 with almost one million visitors. Its € 30 million visitors centre opened in 2007.

The list was narrowed down from over 400 nominees, which also included the Burren. The Clare karst landscape did not make the final cut as only one nominee for each country was picked.

Considerable controversy has surrounded the voting method as the organisers allowed entrants to purchase additional votes through a text-messaging service.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), which awards World Heritage status to historical sites worldwide, has reportedly pulled out of supporting the awards because of the controversy.

An Irish advertising campaign to promote voting for the cliffs was being planned following the announcement.The list will be narrowed down to 77 by public vote over the next seven months.Votes can be cast at www.new7wonders.com .