The first stop on the pilgrimage is saint patricks statue erected in 1928 by reverend father patterson with money he collected in america towards the rebuilding of saint marys church in westport. Historical interest croagh patricks history as a place of worship reaches back in time as far as 3,000 bc. It is the fourth highest mountain in mayo on the international p600 listing after mweelrea, nephin and barrclashcame. Croagh patrick is located on the western coast of mayo on the southern shores of clew bay. The religious element of croagh patrick is strong i felt like a godless fish out of water at first. Including wonderful photographs and illustrations, harry hughes book describes the pilgrimage and details the history, archaeology, ancient traditions and. In irelands biggest pilgrimage, the last sunday in july brings thousands of people to climb croagh patrick.
Croagh patrick s history as a place of worship reaches back in time as far as 3,000 bc. It rises in a perfect cone to a height of 2510 feet. Masses are held at the summit, where there is a small chapel. During this event between 25,000 and 40,000 people will walk the 3hour round trip up the reek mountain, or croagh patrick in county mayo, ireland. Croagh patrick is considered as an important site for pilgrimage.
It was on the summit of the mountain that saint patrick fasted for forty days in 441 ad and the custom has been faithfully handed down from generation to generation. Set on the atlantic shore in county mayo, croagh patrick is known as irelands holy mountain and attracts almost one hundred thousand pilgrims and visitors every year. The 764m high conical peak dominates the southern shores of clew bay in co. Best known for its association with saint patrick, irelands patron saint, who is said to have fasted for 40 days at the summit in 441ad, croagh. Harry hughes book describes the pilgrimage and details the history, archaeology. The annals of boyle relate that hugh oconnor, king of connaught, who came to the throne in the year 1225, cut off the hands and the feet of an outlaw who dared to molest a pilgrim on his way to croagh patrick. Croagh patrick is irelands holy mountain, from where st patrick banished the snakes from ireland and where thousands of pilgrims come to pay homage to irelands patron saint. In 2006, archbishop neary and other pilgrims were accompanied by cardinal sean brady, primate of all ireland and successor to st patrick, in their reek sunday pilgrimage. Apr, 2014 croagh patrick, west ireland, republic of ireland, eire. But the tochar phadraig pilgrim walk is a mere 35km, from ballintubber abbey to the foot of croagh patrick. An unfortunate pilgrimage to croagh patrick on st patrick.
And if even that seems like too much, you can climb croagh patrick in a few hours. Croagh patrick pilgrimage activities pilgrimage walks and. He is chairman of the croagh patrick archaeological committee and chairman of the croagh patrick famine memorial committee and is a member of the croagh patrick millennium park committee. The legend of patrick, recounted in the book of armagh, lends credence to the idea that croagh patrick was a sacred site before the rise of christianity. Patrick, who is said to have completed a fortyday lenten ritual of fasting and penance here.
Croagh patrick a place of pilgrimage a place of beauty. Mar 03, 2020 the pilgrimage to the summit of croagh patrick takes place on the last sunday of july, which also coincides with the pagan festival of lughnasadh. Long before st patrick banished snakes and demons from the reek, and long. Tradition of the croagh patrick pilgrimage irish traditions. On these days, services are available on the summit of the mountain. Jul 31, 2017 mayo mountain rescue has said people sustained injuries and were evacuated off croagh patrick during the annual reek sunday pilgrimage. Thousands of pilgrims climb croagh patrick on reek sunday. Croagh patrick including wonderful photographs and illustrations, harry hughes book describes the pilgrimage and details the history, archaeology, ancient traditions and folklore associated with croagh patrick. Cruach phadraig, meaning saint patricks stack, nicknamed the reek, is a 764 m 2,507 ft mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in mayo, ireland. Early morning shots of pilgrims setting out on a gruelling walk up a mountain where st patrick went to fast for forty days. The obrien press croagh patrick a place of pilgrimage. Dr claffey lists several of the holy mountains of the world and some of their associated pilgrimages. The black bell of saint patrick was a highly venerated relic on croagh.
Labeled irelands most dangerous climb, croagh patrick rises 2,507 feet from. This tragic event did not deter further pilgrimage to croagh patrick and jocelyns twelfth century life of st patrick which records that many are accustomed to spend the night awake and fasting on the mount in the centuries that follow there was a marked shift in recorded dates of pilgrimages away from st patricks day to the summer months when the weather was better. Harry hughes, author of a number of local history books, lives in westport, county mayo. If you are visiting croagh patrick at a time other than reek sunday, the croagh patrick heritage trail website has a lot of useful information. In particular on reek sunday, the last sunday in july, over twenty thousand people climb the mountain, some at night and. Croagh patrick in myth, prehistory and history long before st patrick banished snakes and demons from the reek, and long after it too, it was a sacred place of pagan rituals. On those special dates, pilgrims generally attend mass at the chapel located at the summit.
Annual croagh patrick reek sunday pilgrimage to take. Ms donkey being led up mountain track with baskets on its back. Today is reek sunday the main pilgrimage day to craogh patrick. Patrick fasting for 40 days and night atop the mountain. Standing some 765m high, croagh patrick towers over clew bay and the town of westport and dominates the coastline of mayo. Harry hughes book describes the pilgrimage and details the. Croagh patrick, nicknamed the reek, is a 764metre 2,507ft mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in county mayo in ireland. History of croagh patrick irelands holy mountain teach. The black bell of saint patrick was a highly venerated relic on croagh patrick for many years. The pilgrimage to the summit of croagh patrick takes place on the last sunday of july, which also coincides with the pagan festival of lughnasadh.
The mountain is legendary in irish history and lore. Well think again this is a tough climb and i mean tough. The history of croagh patrick from the croagh patrick visitor. Discover the history, archaeology, folklore and ancient traditions associated with the reek. Dec 25, 2018 some visit the marian shrine at knock, others climb the holy mountain of croagh patrick or the island of lough derg. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Accordingly, some untake the journey barefoot or even on their knees. Aug 02, 2016 up to 20,000 people have taken part in the annual croagh patrick pilgrimage in co mayo, continuing a tradition said to go back more than 1,500 years. In particular on reek sunday, the last sunday in july, over twenty thousand people climb the mountain, some at night and some in their bare feet. Croagh patrick irelands holy mountain croagh patrick, c. Croagh patrick harry hughes haftad 9781788490276 bokus. Patrick banished all the snakes from ireland from the summit of croagh patrick. For over 4,000 years, pilgrims have climbed to the top of the mountain of croagh patrick, not far from the cheerful coastal town of westport, in search of splendid vistas as well as connection to land, myth and history. Crough patrick is nicknamed the reek from rick or stack. The reek, as it is known, is climbed by thousands of pilgrims, tourists and walkers annually. Atlantic tabor the pilgrims of croagh patrick, is a photographic essay about that. Some visit the marian shrine at knock, others climb the holy mountain of croagh patrick or the island of lough derg. Croagh patricks history as a place of worship reaches back in time as far as 3,000 bc. The history of croagh patrick from the croagh patrick visitor centre. Croagh patrick is one irelands most famous pilgrimage locations.
The history of croagh patrick from the croagh patrick. It is held in honour of saint patrick who, in the year 441, spent 40 days fasting on the mountain. The account given below is taken from sources that postdate the saints death by three to four hundred years. Croagh patrick, which overlooks clew bay in county mayo, is considered the holiest mountain in ireland. An unfortunate pilgrimage to croagh patrick on st patricks. The annual pilgrimage to croagh patrick is becoming a bit like the northern parades issue in reverse. Croagh patrick rises majestic above the stunning mayo countryside. If you are visiting on the day of the pilgrimage just. Croagh patrick county mayo 2020 all you need to know. Croagh patrick attracts 100,000 pilgrims and visitors annually. The 2017 edition of westport historical societys 10. Irelands holy mountain over 100,000 pilgrims and visitors travel to croagh patrick annually. Another traditional day of pilgrimage to croagh patrick is the last friday of july, known as garland friday, and15th august which is the feast of the assumption of our lady.
Croagh patrick encyclopedia volume catholic encyclopedia. Best known for its association with saint patrick, irelands patron saint, who is said to have. If like me u think it must b ok if they have a pilgrimage up it. The legend claims that patrick went to the mountain in the year 441 to convert either a king or a celtic god who lived on the mountain. Books that are relevant to the beautiful towns of westport and newport situated on clew bay, co. Long before st patrick banished snakes and demons from the reek, and long after it too, it was a sacred place of pagan rituals. History of croagh patrick irelands holy mountain teach na miasa. Domhnach na cruaiche or garland sunday is an annual day of pilgrimage in ireland. The croagh patrick mountain pilgrimage and climb pilgrim. To william makepeace thackeray 18111863, writing the irish sketch book. Book your tickets online for croagh patrick, county mayo.
While these are the official pilgrimage times, there is hardly a day of the year when there isnt somebody climbing croagh patrick for their own reasons, be they nature lovers, hill climbers, pilgrims, historians or just a. An overview of the history of pilgrimage to croagh patrick. Croagh patrick pilgrimage, eire southern ireland, republic of ireland. It is 8 km 5 mi from westport, above the villages of murrisk and lecanvey. Almost 30,000 pilgrims make the trek on the last sunday in july, known as reek sunday.
Pilgrim card launched for reek sunday climb of croagh patrick. Croagh patrick is renowned for its patrician pilgrimage in honour of saint patrick, irelands patron saint. Croagh patrick is the most important catholic pilgrimage destination in ireland. Croagh patrick pilgrimage taken from the bbcs titchmarshs. Wonderful photoraphs and illustrations capture the sheer beauty of the mountain and surrounding countryside and buildings. The reek sunday pilgrimage at croagh patrick in county mayo, ireland is a syncretic event that incorporates official catholic religious narratives of saint patrick, folk narratives of the sites celtic pagan significance, local histories of the great irish. The mountains popularity among religious pilgrims dates to the time of st. Patrick often gazed, so, too, the pilgrimage itself has not changed trough the years. On the last sunday in july, pilgrims climb irelands holiest mountain, croagh patrick 764 metres in county mayo.
Annual croagh patrick reek sunday pilgrimage to take place. Croagh patrick, a mountain looking out on the atlantic ocean from the southern shore of clew bay, in the county mayo, and called the sinai of ireland. Its role as a place of christian pilgrimage dates back more than 1600 years, and there have been archeological finds there that suggest it had a ritual significance for thousands of years before that. If youre interested in the history of croagh patrick mountain of st. As the country gets ready to celebrate our national saint with street parades, parties, turning buildings green and the odd pilgrimage, people are carrying on a tradition of venerating st patrick that dates back to the 6th7th century, if not before. The pilgrim journey a history of pilgrimage in the western world. Croagh patrick nicknamed the reek, is a 764 m 2,507 ft mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in mayo, ireland. Croagh patrick walking holiday europe pilgrim walks.
The mountains popularity among religious pilgrims dates to the time of. Dramatically set overlooking the atlantic ocean near westport, county mayo, its special traditions associated with st. Just as croagh patrick has not changed its physical appearance since our apostle prayed and fasted upon it in the year 441, and just as the pilgrim of today, standing on its summit, views the same scene as that on which st. Patrick and a popular pilgrimage in honor of the patron saint of ireland, commemorating his driving the snakes from ireland. Wonderful photographs and illustrations capture the sheer beauty of the mountain and. Although it is now associated with st patrick, archaeological evidence suggests that the mountain was. For most catholics the pilgrimage to the top of the sacred mountain is an act of penance.
Its pyramidshaped summit is known locally as the the reek, and the mountain has a long association with st patrick. The croagh patrick pilgrimage is associated with st patrick who, in 441, spent 40 days and nights fasting on the summit, following the example of christ and moses. If we compare the height of croagh patrick with other mountains in county mayo, it takes the record as the third highest mountain. Patrick this is by far the best book on its history. History of croagh patrick the mountain is significant in irish history and is considered a place of worship predating the arrival of christianity in ireland. Whatever its origin, the annual pilgrimage to croagh patrick is one of the most ancient practices in ireland. There is a car park and a small visitor center, with toilets, at the base of the mountain. On one side thousands of people, mostly catholics, mark a sunday in july by walking a traditional route to and from a church on top of a hill.