"Ocean, rock, nature, man . . . a giant cathedral on our western shore." With such stirring sentiments, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern declared the Cliffs of Moher's "new visitor experience" open for business yesterday.
Mr Ahern did so with considerable enthusiasm, and many adjectives, in the warmth and shelter of the subterranean centre which cost €31.45 million to construct.
"Its successful completion marks the culmination of a remarkable exercise in teamwork, project management and sensitivity for its fragile environment," he said.
"Its maturity has created a worthy setting for an outstanding showpiece of nature that is among the most popular visitor attractions in Europe. I am proud to say that more than one million visitors from many nations enjoyed this unique experience last year."
Referring to the importance of the cliff habitat for some 30,000 birds of 29 species, Mr Ahern said he understood that Clare County Council intended to campaign for its designation as a Unesco world heritage site.
The council had already applied to Unesco to have both the 214-metre (700ft) high cliffs along 8km of coastline and the Burren included in the European Geopark network.
"I commend the council for its initiative and I strongly support these applications, as does my colleague the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue," Mr Ahern said.
The project, designed by Reddy O'Riordan Staehli Architects, incorporates the Atlantic Edge interpretative centre, one of the highlights being "the Ledge", described as a "virtual reality cliff-face adventure" filmed through the eyes of a diving gannet.
The Taoiseach was given a rapid tour of the exhibits and the ubiquitous shop, before unveiling a plaque and disappearing - with barely a glimpse at the cliffs - to open a hotel in Doolin and attend a dinner in Ennis last night in honour of retiring Clare TD Síle de Valera.
For John O'Donoghue the 17-year gestation of the project could be compared to the fortunes of his own political party as it approaches the election.
"I think that it is symbolic," Mr O'Donoghue told reporters. "It is only in the last couple of years that we have succeeded in putting it in place.
"We could only put it in place because of the fact that we have built the economy to the point where we were able to build up our tourism product, and we aim to spend €317 million in the period of the life of the next government in building the tourism product further.
"Our ambitions for the tourism industry know no bounds.
"We've already said that by the end of the year 2012 we will increase the number of visitors coming to this country by 10 million."
"Now if only they could vote," one of the many yellow-coated handlers whispered behind him.
