The Cliffs of Donneen are in North Kerry on the Banks of the Shannon Estuary This is an explanation about the arguments on the song and location. I wrote this on another site
Well the words of the song were composed here on the Loop Head Peninsula. It was about the Cliffs of Moveen a local scenic spot just south west of Kilkee. There were many verses to song some now lost, maybe composed in late 1800's or early 1900's and good trad singers from the area were able to give the full version. Huge emigration from West Clare to England in the '40's '50's and 60's they brought the words with them. It was sung around London in those decades and cute Kerry h...r switched the word Moveen to Dooneen. Christy Moore must have come across the plagiarized version and had it on one of his early albums with Plaxnty in the '70s. As they say the rest is history. Cliffs of Dooneen are across in Kerry from Carrigaholt approx at the Mouth of the Shannon. The topography is right if The Cliffs of Moveen version is sung. You can see the Towns of Kilrush and Kilkee from Moveen not from Dooneen. You can't see Kilkee from Dooneen. One thing both places have in common is they rest on shale sandstone rock which is unique to the area, in that there are only two other places in the world where that particular rock is exposed above sea level. Geologists come from all over the world to study the rock in this area because of its accessibility especially those involved in the oil industry.
But if people want to believe that Cliffs of Dooneen are in Clare why not! There is enough of counties around us trying to claim bits of Co Clare. Up The Banner
Michael O'Connell a native of Corca Baiscinn.