View source for Ailladie

{{Short description|Limestone sea cliff in the Burren, Ireland}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox climbing area
| name = Ailladie
| alt_name = {{lang|ga|Aill an Daill}}<br/>Ballyreen Cliffs
| photo = Alladie Cliffs Co Clare.jpg
| photo_width = 250
| photo_caption =
| map = Ireland
| map_width = 250
| map_caption =  Location of Ailladie in Ireland
| location = {{hlist|[[The Burren]]|[[County Clare]]|[[Republic of Ireland]]}}
| nearest_city = 6&nbsp;km south of [[Fanore]]<ref name=CT /><br /> 8&nbsp;km north of [[Doolin]]<ref name=CT />
| range = [[The Burren]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|53|04|14|N|09|21|30|W|type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| climbing_type = {{hlist|[[Traditional climbing|Traditional]]|[[Abseiling]]|[[Deep water soloing|Deep Water Soloing]]}}
| height = circa {{convert|35|m}} above sea level at its peak
| pitches = [[Pitch (ascent/descent)|Single pitch]]
| ratings = {{hlist|Diff to E7|Little below VS|Majority above E1 5b}}
| rock_type = [[Limestone]]
| quantity = {{hlist|+200 routes online database|170 routes 2008 guidebook}}
| development = {{hlist|Roadside parking|No facilities|No fresh water<ref name=PO />}}
| aspect = [[West]]
| elevation = At sea level
| ownership =
| camping = {{hlist|Ailladie (free)|[[Fanore]] (paid)|[[Doolin]] (paid)<ref name=PO />}}
| classic_climbs = {{ubl| Pis Fluich (HVS 5a) | Gallows Pole (E2 5c) | Skywalker (E3 5c) | Kleptomaniac (E3 6a) | Through Looking Glass (E3 6a) | Wall of Fossils (E4 6a) | The Cutter (E4 6a) | Refraction (E5 6a) |  Ouicksilver (E5 6a) | On Reflection (E6 6a)<ref name=PO /><ref name=CT />}}
| website = {{url|1=http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php/Ailladie|2=Climbing.ie Ailladie}}
}}
'''Ailladie''' ({{langx|ga|Aill an Daill|lit=Blind Man's Cliff}}; also known locally as the '''Ballyreen Cliffs'''),<ref name=LA /><ref name=TL /> is an {{convert|800|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} west-facing [[limestone]] sea cliff, that varies in height from {{convert|8|m|ft}} to {{convert|35|m|ft}}, situated on the coast of [[The Burren]] in [[County Clare]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. Ailladie is one of Ireland's most highly regarded [[rock-climbing]] locations, particularly for high [[Grade (climbing)|technical grade]] [[Pitch (ascent/descent)|single pitch]] [[traditional climbing]] routes and [[deep-water soloing]] routes. It is also a location for shore-angling competitions, and, with its cliffs and view of the [[Aran Islands]], is a popular photography stop for tourists.<ref name=CT /><ref name=PO />
== Naming ==
The name Ailladie is an [[anglicized]] translation from the [[Irish language]] name, ''Aill an Daill'', which means 'The Blind Man's Cliff' or 'Cliff of the Blind Person'.<ref name=LA>{{cite web|url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/104004?s=Ailladie | website=[[Placenames Database of Ireland]] | access-date=24 March 2020 | title=Aill an Daill (Irish), Ailladie (English) }}</ref><ref name=CT /> The cliffs are also referred to locally, and by anglers, as Ballyreen Cliffs and Ballyreen Point, which is an anglicised version of the name given to Ailladie's local townland of {{langx|ga| Baile Uí Rinn}}; 'Ó Rinn's homestead'.<ref name=TL>{{cite web|url=https://www.townlands.ie/clare/corcomroe/killilagh/lurraga/ballyryan/| title=Ballyryan Townland, Co. Clare|date=2018|publisher=Townland.ie| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="danger">{{cite web|url=http://www.doolincoastguard.com/ballyreen-point/|quote=A person had fallen into the sea from the rocks at Ballyreen Point while sea fishing, the sea was quite rough at the time with high waves and strong winds|title=Ballyreen Point|publisher=Doolin Coast Guard|date=7 November 2009|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422134629/http://www.doolincoastguard.com/ballyreen-point/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/activities/cliffs-of-moher-aran-islands-wild-atlantic-way-from-galway/a/pa-act/v-11121P17/359581|publisher=[[Lonely Planet]]|title=Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Wild Atlantic Way from Galway|quote=Turning right at Ballyvaughan, your local, driver guide will take you south following the Wild Atlantic Way along the coast of Clare, via Black Head, Fanore Strand, and the baby cliffs of Ballyreen.|access-date=24 March 2020}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Geography ==
Ailladie is an {{convert|800|m|ft|adj=on}} long west-facing [[limestone]] sea-cliff, varying in height from {{convert|8|m|ft}} metres to {{convert|35|m|ft}} metres, that is situated on the coast of The Burren in County Clare, in Ireland.<ref name=CT />  The northernmost sections are not sea-cliffs, and their bases can be accessed by short descent routes (see Access) to flat limestone shelves below.<ref name=CT /><ref name=PO /> The southernmost sections are all sea-cliffs that can only be accessed by rope [[abseil]].<ref name=CT /><ref name=PO /> The cliff straddles the Clare townlands of Ballyryan (southern section),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.townlands.ie/clare/corcomroe/killilagh/lurraga/ballyryan/| title=Ballyran Townland, Co. Clare|date=2018|publisher=Townland.ie| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref> and Crumlin (northern section).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.townlands.ie/clare/burren/killonaghan/derreen/crumlin/| title=Crumlin Townland, Co. Clare|date=2018|publisher=Townland.ie| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
=== Access ===
The cliffs of Ailladie are hidden from direct view, and are situated just a short walk from the [[R477 road (Ireland)|R477 road]], {{convert|1.5|km|mi}}, at a point before the road turns inland and south-east to [[Lisdoonvarna]]. The Ailladie car-park (grid {{gbm4ibx|M0901102910}}), is marked on online maps, and it lies directly opposite the ''Stone Wall'' section of the cliffs (see Ailladie map below).  Beside the car park, to the southeast, is the smaller rock climbing crag known as [[Ballyryan]] (climbers on the Ballyryan crag can be seen by the passing R477 traffic).
Access to the base of the cliff is only possible without abseiling at the northernmost end, where a {{convert|3|m|ft|adj=on}} roped ''fisherman's descent'' gives access to a large limestone platform at the cliff-base of Ailladie.<ref name=CT /><ref name=PO />
== Rock climbing ==
===Reputation===
Ailladie is a [[traditional climbing]] crag, with no [[Bolt (climbing)|bolted]] or [[sport climbing]] routes.  With few exceptions, the vast majority of the climbing routes are [[Pitch (ascent/descent)|single pitch]] {{convert|25-35|m|ft|adj=on}} long traditional climbs.  Where bolts and [[piton]]s have appeared, they have generally been removed.<ref name=CT /><ref name=PO />
Ailladie has remained at the "cutting edge" of Irish outdoor traditional rock climbing, along with the [[dolerite]] cliff of [[Fair Head]] in [[County Antrim]].<ref name="robg" /><ref name=CL1>{{cite web|url=https://www.climbing.com/news/michael-reardon-pro-blog-5/|author=Michael Reardon|author-link=Michael Reardon (climber)|title=IRISH VISIT: Ailladie (Burren, Co. Clare)|publisher=climbing.com|quote=The following day brought me to one of my favorite climbing areas on the planet — the great sea cliffs of Ailladie.|date=9 July 2007| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>  The UKC described Ailladie as ''"Best coastal limestone in the world! Fact!"''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=2338|title=Ailladie (Burren, Co. Clare)|publisher=UKClimbing.com|date=2018| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>  The ''[[Irish Examiner]]'' said, "The mecca for rock climbing in Ireland is Ailladie".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/feel-on-top-of-the-world-161075.html | title=Feel on top of the world | date=July 2011 | author=Dan McCarthy | newspaper=[[Irish Examiner]] | quote=The mecca for rock climbing in Ireland is Ailladie, Co Clare. It sounds like a lost Himalayan kingdom but in fact it is a rural townland just outside Doolin in the Burren, Co Clare.| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>  The ''[[Irish Times]]'' called it "one of Ireland's best rock-climbing sites".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/ireland/cycle-series-ride-the-roads-around-lisdoonvarna-1.3056633 | newspaper=[[Irish Times]] | author=Dan McCarthy | date=29 April 2017 | access-date=24 March 2020 | title=Cycle series: Ride the roads around Lisdoonvarna}}</ref>  In 2007, American [[free solo]] climber [[Michael Reardon (climber)|Michael Reardon]] made the first of several visits to Ailladie and said that it was "redefining everything I know about the mental game of climbing",<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=[[Irish Examiner]] | url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20254208.html | title=Remembering the extraordinary life of free climber Michael Reardon | first=Barry | last=O'Donovan | date=4 July 2014 | accessdate=16 February 2022}}</ref> and that it was "one of my favorite places on the planet".<ref name=CL1/>
In 2019, ''On Reflection'' (E6 6a), on the ''Mirror Wall'' section, was listed in ''UK Climbing's'' "The Five Best E6 Routes in the UK and Ireland".<ref>{{cite web | website=UK Climbing | url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/the_five_best_e6_routes_in_the_uk_and_ireland-11753 | first=Rob | last=Greenwood | date=24 July 2019 | access-date=6 February 2021 | title=The Five Best E6 Routes in the UK and Ireland}}</ref>
=== Layout ===
[[File:Ailladie, Mirror Wall, County Clare.jpg|left|thumb|Climbers on ''The Cutter'' (E4 6a), using the [[hanging belay]] start, on ''Mirror Wall'', Ailladie]]
Ailladie's northern half includes the sections known to climbers as the ''Dancing Ledges'' and the ''Aran Wall'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.php?id=294719|title=Outline of Ailladie's 5 Sectors: Dancing Ledges, Aran Wall, Mirror Wall, Stone Wall, An Falla Uaigneach and Boulder Wall|author=Rob Greenwood|publisher=UKClimbing.com|date=10 June 2017| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref> and sits above a large rock platform that is accessible, via the 3-metre roped ''fisherman's descent'' (see Access), regardless of tides.  Experienced climbers use a ''climber's descent'' at ''O'Conner's Corner'' (10-metre, Diff).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php/File:Climbers_descent.jpg|title=Ailladie: Climber's Descent and O'Connors Corner (Dancing Ledges Sector)|publisher=climbing.ie| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>  The ''Dancing Ledges'' are the lowest cliffs of Ailladie with routes of 10–15 metres and many below the [[Grade (climbing)|E-grade]], which makes them the most popular section for intermediate climbers; whereas the ''Aran Wall'' routes are up to 30-metres in height and mostly [[Grade (climbing)|E-grade]].<ref name=CT /><ref name=PO />
The first part of Ailladie's southern-half is ''Mirror Wall'' (mostly [[Grade (climbing)|graded E4–E7]]), and it is accessible by boulder-hopping at low-tide, although climbers also [[abseil]] down to start routes.<ref name=CT />  The remainder of the southern-half of Ailladie, the ''Stone Wall'', ''An Falla Uaigneach'', and ''Boulder Wall'' sections, require abseils for access.  Many of the climbs in the imposing ''An Falla Uaigneach'' sector are started from a [[hanging belay]], and the sector also offers extreme [[deep water soloing]] (DWS) routes (e.g. ''The Jelly Situation'' 7c+ S1, and ''King Crozzle'', 7b+ S1),<ref name=DWS>{{cite web | website=Irish Climbing Wiki | title=Ailladie DWS Routes | url=http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php?title=Ailladie_DWS_Routes | accessdate=16 February 2022}}</ref> and with significant {{convert|30|m|ft|adj=on}} drops.<ref name=DWS2>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/colm_shannons_deserted_dws_heaven_-_irish_west_coast-8429|title=Colm Shannon's Deserted DWS Heaven – Irish West Coast's Ailladie|publisher=UKClimbing.com|date=7 August 2016| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Ailladie (Ballyreen Cliffs) County Clare Map.jpg|thumb|Layout of Ailladie (incl. parking).  The grey area at the ''Fisherman's Descent'' are the northern limestone ledges used by shore-anglers]]
The rock is limestone, of a clean blue/grey quality and mostly hanging in a sheer vertical form, with both vertical and horizontal cracks described as reminiscent of [[granite]] routes,<ref name="robg" /> and texture described as "varies from smooth, in the few small areas recently exposed by [[rockfall]], to a sharp ''popcorn'' texture which provides excellent friction".<ref name=CT>{{cite book | last1 = Torrans | first1 = Calvin | last2 = Sheridan | first2 = Clare | title = Climbing guide to the Burren | publisher = [[Mountaineering Council of Ireland]] | isbn = 978-0-902940-12-3 | year = 1997 }}</ref> Most climbs follow steep narrow finger-crack lines, and the rock climbing [[protection (climbing)|protection]] is considered to be good.<ref name="robg" /><ref name=CT /> The last [[climbing guidebook|guidebook]], published in 2008,<ref name=PO>{{cite book | last = Owens | first = Peter | title = Climbs in the Burren and Aran Islands | publisher = Mountaineering Ireland | isbn = 978-0-902940-21-5 | year = 2008 | access-date=24 March 2020 | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Climbs-Burren-Aran-Islands-Mountaineering/dp/B009P3PLFM/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1585052550&sr=1-1}}</ref> lists 170 climbs (the current Ailladie online database, see below, has over 200),<ref name="robg" /> nearly all [[Pitch (ascent/descent)|single-pitches]], with [[grade (climbing)|grades]] up to E7 6c (e.g. ''Snell's Law'', ''No Reflection'', ''Black Mirror'', all at E7 6c and over 35-metres in length).<ref name=wi>{{cite web | website=Irish Climbing Wiki | url=http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php?title=Ailladie#Mirror_Wall | accessdate=16 February 2022 | title=Ailladie}}</ref>  Most Ailladie routes are at, and above, E1 5b grades; there is little quality below VS 4c graded routes, although Ailladie has several classic VS and HVS routes.<ref name=wi/>  The lower sections of some routes, and the grade, can change due to the movements of boulders in sea storms,<ref name="robg">{{cite web|url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/ailladie_the_burren_-_ireland-9479|title=Ailladie, the Burren – Ireland|publisher=UKClimbing.com|author=Rob Greenwood|date=27 June 2017| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref> and hence why many ''Mirror Wall'' climbers start from a hanging belay.<ref name=CT />
=== History ===
[[File:ailladie-south.jpg|thumb|right|The middle sectors of Ailladie. On the left is the ''Aran Wall'' sector (with its distinctive dual square blocks halfway up the wall), with most climbs at E2–E5. To the right is the inset sheer ''Mirror Wall'', with most climbs at E4–E7. The last prominent black corner visible on the right is the classic early Ailladie route, ''Pis Fliuch'' (grade HVS/5a, 1972).]]
The climbing potential of Ailladie was discovered in August 1972, when it was visited by a group of [[Dublin]] climbers who would return several times culminating in the November 1972 ascent of one of Ireland's most classic rock climbs, the 30-metre corner of ''Pis Fluich'' (HVS 5a) by Jim McKenzie.<ref name=POL>{{cite book|author=Paddy O'Leary|title=The Way That We Climbed|publisher=The Collins Press|date=March 2015 | isbn=978-1-84889-242-2}}</ref> Word of Ailladie's quality spread, and development also began alongside the smaller nearby crags in [[The Burren]] area, which became the only on-shore [[limestone]] rock climbing locations in Ireland; the others being mainly [[granite]], [[sandstone]] and dolerite.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.climb-europe.com/RockClimbingIreland.html|title=Rock climbing in Ireland|publisher=climb-europe.com|date=2018| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>  Early pioneers of the crag in the late 1970s included [[Dermot Somers]] and Calvin Torrans (''The Ramp'' E1 5b, 5a), but it was with the arrival of Tom Ryan and Keefe Murphy, that many of the crag's most important classics began to appear by the early 1980s, including ''Skywalker'' (E3 5c), ''Kleptomaniac'' (E3 6a), ''Through the Looking Glass'' (E3 6a), and ''Wall of Fossils'' (E4 6a).<ref name="robg" /><ref name=POL/> Throughout the 1980s, classic lines were put up by Eddie Cooper including ''Quicksilver'' (E5 6a), ''Damn the Torpedoes'' (E5 6a), and ''White Witch'' (E5 6b), and a visiting British climbing team of Gary Gibson, John Codling and Martin Manson, who added ''Ice Queen'' (E5 6a), ''Refraction'' (E5 6a), ''The Cutter'' (E4 6a), ''On Reflection'' (E6 6a), and ''Prism Sentance'' (E5 6a, 6b) in a June 1985 visit.<ref name=CT /><ref name=PO /><ref>{{cite book | title=Blood, Sweat and Smears | first=Gary | last=Gibson | date=May 2019 | publisher=2QT Limited Publishing | isbn=978-1913071097}}</ref>
The 1990s saw new harder 3-starred routes such as Welsh climber George Smith's ''Very Big Springs'' (E6 6b, 1993), and ''Seeing Things'' (E6 6b, with Alan Wainwright, 1993), and [[Peak District]] climbers Dominic and Daniel Lee's ''Phoenix in the Mirror'' (E6 6c, 1996).<ref name=CT /><ref name=POL/> The following years saw more E6 and E7 graded routes from some of the leading Irish-based climbers such as [[Dalkey Quarry]] regulars Ronan Browner and Herbert Hebblethwaite (''Earthling'' and ''Forbidden Kink'' both E6 6c, 1997), and by Ricky Bell (''The Happiness that Hurts'' and ''The Power of the Hobo'' both E7 6c, 2006), and Andy Long (''The Vein'' and ''Forever Young'' both E7 6c, 2004, and ''Faith'' E7 6c, 2005).<ref name=PO /><ref name=POL/>  In addition, Bell, [[free solo]]ist Julian Lines, and later, Colm Shannon, developed the DWS potential of the ''An Falla Uaignech'' section, establishing extreme DWS routes at grades of up to 7c+ S2/3.<ref name=DWS2/><ref name=DWS/>  In 2007, Belgian climber {{ill|Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll|fr|Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll}} established a new E7 on ''Mirror Wall'' that he named ''Snell's Law'' (E7 6c),<ref name=PO /> and in 2021, Irish climber Conor McGovern added two further E7s on ''Mirror Wall'', named ''No Reflection'' (E7 6c), and ''Black Mirror'' (E7 6c).<ref name=wi/>
=== Facilities ===
Visiting climbers either camp in the fields above the crag (however, there is no source of freshwater), or stay at one of the many [[hostel]]s in the surrounding villages (particularly [[Doolin]] for nightlife and additional bouldering,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theshortspan.com/guide/doolin.pdf|title=Doolin Bouldering|author=Peter Owens|publisher=Mountaineering Council of Ireland|date=2008|access-date=2018-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826165504/http://www.theshortspan.com/guide/doolin.pdf|archive-date=2014-08-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> or [[Fanore]] for serviced camping grounds).<ref name=CT /> There are several nearby inland {{convert|10-20|m|ft}} high limestone crags with a good range of graded rock climbs, especially in the grades below VS, that are within walking distance (e.g. Ballyryan) or a short driving distance (e.g. Murroughkilly, Aill na Cronain and Oughtdarra), from Ailladie; however, these do not have anything like the quality or popularity of Ailladie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/map/?q=CO.+CLARE&x=-9.308&y=53.095&z=10|title=West Clare Crags|publisher=UKClimbing.com|date=2018| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
==Other sports==
=== Cave diving ===
Starting at circa {{convert|9.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} below sea level, Cliff Cave (also known as Mirror Wall Cave or Pollaillte), extends inland from the crag.  It was discovered in 2012, and containing over {{convert|2.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} of passages, is the longest-known marine cave in Ireland. Exploration of the cave can only be undertaken after a prolonged period of calm and stable conditions to avoid becoming trapped.<ref name=is21>{{cite journal| title=The exploration of Cliff Cave, Oughtdarra, Co. Clare| last1=Warny| first1=Jim| last2=Marek| first2=Michal| editor-last1=Barrie| editor-first1=Peter| editor-last2=Kennedy| editor-first2=Alasdair| journal=[[Irish Speleology]]| publisher=[[Speleological Union of Ireland]]| volume=21| issn=0332-4907| date=October 2014| pages=71–72}}</ref><ref name=is24>{{cite journal| title=Obituary: Michał Marek| last=Kluj| first=Magdalena| editor-last1=Barrie| editor-first1=Peter| editor-last2=Kennedy| editor-first2=Alasdair| journal=[[Irish Speleology]]| publisher=[[Speleological Union of Ireland]]| volume=24| issn=0332-4907| date=2019| pages=73–74}}</ref>
=== Shore angling ===
[[File:Ailladie (looking into the Falla Uaigneach section), Clare, Ireland.jpg|thumb|Looking south through a small [[zawn]] into Ailladie's ''Falla Uaigneach'' cliff-section, with the southerly ledges used for shore-angling.]]
The limestone ledges at the base of Ailladie's cliffs (at the far north and far south ends), are regarded for their shore-angling and are described as providing "superb bottom fishing".<ref name="fish">{{cite web|url=http://www.fishinginireland.info/sea/west/galway_bay_and_north_clare.htm|title=Fishing in Ireland: Galway Bay & North Clare|publisher=Angling Ireland|access-date=13 November 2018|quote=There is superb bottom fishing from the rocks at Ballyreen where ray, conger, dogfish, bull huss, and plaice are common. Garfish and wrasse can be caught while float fishing, pollack, and mackerel to spinners. Occasionally tope will take a bait here and porbeagle shark have also been landed.  Ground close to the shore and rocks is very weedy and broken. However, a cast of 60 to 70 Metres will land bait on clean ground. As at Black Head, this area is a popular venue for anglers and the rocks have numbers painted on them for club competitions.}}</ref> Anglers know the area as Ballyreen-south of Fanore, and several of the rocks have numbers painted on them for shore-angling competitions.<ref name="fish" />  Ballyreen is noted as one of the few shore-angling locations in Clare where sharks ([[porbeagle shark|porbeagle]] and [[blue shark|blue]]), and [[conger eel]]s have been successfully landed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/shore%20-%20clare%20n.htm|publisher=SEA-ANGLING-IRELAND.ORG|access-date=13 November 2018|title=Clare: Ballyreen|quote=Ballyreen This is yet another rock platform mark that demands care and attention.  It will require a drop net to land the bigger fish. Species & Techniques: Bottom fishing onto mixed ground will produce thornback ray, dogfish, bull huss and conger eels ... and reputedly it also produces Flatfish including a fair share of plaice.  The conger eel fishing in the autumn 2004 has been reported as exceptional with lots of fish over the 13 kilo (30 lbs) specimen mark.  There is a very foul bottom close to shore but it moves to sand from 40-50 metres out.  This is one of only two marks in Clare (the other being Green Island) from which shark (porbeagle and blue) and tope have been successfully landed, but landing large fish off the cliffs is not a simple task.}}</ref>
Because of the proximity of these low limestone ledges to deep Atlantic waters, the ledges have seen several fatalities over the years of anglers who were caught by sudden swells or large waves, and were carried out to sea.<ref name="danger" /><ref name="danger1">{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/woman-drowns-after-being-swept-out-to-sea-in-co-clare-1.2717072|title=Woman drowns after being swept out to sea in Co Clare|newspaper=[[Irish Times]]|date=10 July 2016|quote=A 53-year-old woman has drowned after being swept out to sea by a wave in north Clare on Sunday morning. [...] The woman was part of a group that had been fishing at Ballyreen, south of Fanore.| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="danger2">{{cite web|url=http://theclareherald.blogspot.com/2013/10/anglers-return-to-ballyreen-as-search.html|title=Anglers return to Ballyreen as search continues for missing Latvian man|date=8 October 2013|publisher=Clare Hearald|quote=The 42-year-old father-of-two from Latvia had been fishing for mackerel at an area known locally as the Fisherman's Climb at Ballyreen near Fanore.| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
== Accidents ==
As well as accidents from rock-climbing activities (there are no recorded rock climbing fatalities at Ailladie), and accidents and fatalities from shore-angling activities,<ref name="danger" /><ref name="danger1" /><ref name="danger2" /> Ailladie has also seen a number of accidents and fatalities from tourist activities as a result of falls at the cliffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clarechampion.ie/tag/ballyreen/|title=Search called off as body lost in Ballyreen is found in Salthill|publisher=Clare Champion|date=26 January 2017|quote=Drone technology had been deployed during the week in the search for the 22-year-old who was reported missing after he failed to return to his tour bus which had stopped at Ballyreen, on the Wild Atlantic Way, between Fanore and Lisdoonvarna, at the designated time of departure.| access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
== Filmography==
* Ricky Bell in Ailladie and Fair Head (Antrim): {{cite AV media | title=Underdeveloped | asin= | type=Motion picture | date=2007| publisher=Posing Productions | people=Egner, Jamie (director) | url=https://www.mntnfilm.com/en/film/underdeveloped-2007 | accessdate=3 June 2022}}<ref>{{cite web | website=UKClimbing | url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2020/05/underdeveloped_-_climbing_in_ireland-72292 | title=Underdeveloped - Climbing in Ireland | first=Nick | last=Brown | date=1 May 2020 | accessdate=3 June 2022}}</ref>
== See also ==
*[[Aill na Cronain]], inland rock climbing limestone crag in County Clare, right beside the Aillwee Cave
*[[Ballyryan]], inland rock climbing limestone crag in County Clare, right beside Ailladie
*[[Fair Head]], major rock climbing dolerite mountain crag in County Antrim
*[[Dalkey Quarry]], major rock climbing granite quarry in Dublin
*[[List of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[List of mountains in Ireland]]
{{clear}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
=== Climbing bibliography ===
*{{cite book
| last1 = Torrans
| first1 = Calvin
| last2 = Stelfox
| first2 = Dawson
| title = Rock Climbing In Ireland
| publisher = Constable
| isbn = 978-0-09-465320-7
| year = 1984
}}
*{{cite book
| last1 = Torrans
| first1 = Calvin
| title = Rock Climbing Guide to the Burren
| publisher = Mountaineering Council of Ireland
| isbn = 978-0-902940-07-9
| year = 1986
}}
*{{cite book
| last1 = Torrans
| first1 = Calvin
| last2 = Sheridan
| first2 = Clare
| title = Climbing guide to the Burren
| publisher = Mountaineering Council of Ireland
| isbn = 978-0-902940-12-3
| year = 1997
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Owens
| first = Peter
| title = Climbs in the Burren and Aran Islands
| publisher = Mountaineering Ireland
| isbn = 978-0-902940-21-5
| year = 2008
| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Climbs-Burren-Aran-Islands-Mountaineering/dp/B009P3PLFM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Climbs+in+the+Burren+and+Aran+Islands&qid=1585052724&s=books&sr=1-1
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Flanagan
| first = David
| title = Rock Climbing in Ireland
| publisher = Three Rock Books
| isbn = 978-0-9567874-2-2
| year = 2014
}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ailladie}}
* [http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php/Ailladie IrishClimbingOnlineWiki.ie] Ailladie Online Database
* [https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=2338 UKClimbing.com] Ailladie Online Database
* [http://theundercling.com/repeating-hard-sea-cliff-trad-route-ailladie-ireland/ Forever Young (E7 6c)] Ailladie ''An Falla Uaigneach'' Sector
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMqt9Ao5lCA The Ramp (E1 5a 5b)] Ailladie ''Mirror Wall'' Sector
* [https://vimeo.com/41258552 Siren (E3 5c)] Ailladie ''Stone Wall'' Sector
* [https://vimeo.com/175303651 Eliminator (E5 6b)] Ailladie ''Aran Wall'' Sector
{{Irish Rock Climbing}}
{{Tourism in County Clare}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Climbing areas of Ireland]]
[[Category:Geography of County Clare]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in County Clare]]