Mt. Croagh Patrick
A barefoot pilgrim ascends Croagh Patrick. Photo
Padraic Woods.
Pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday. Photo
Padraic Woods.
Famine memorial made of skeletons, at the base of the mountain.
Photo
Andrew Parnell.
A sign outlines the religious benefits of the pilgrimage. Photo
aonghus.
Hiking along the ridge of Croagh Patrick. Photo
Ximo Tur.
Making the steep rocky climb to the summit. Photo
aonghus.
Many pilgrims undertake the journey barefoot. Photo
Chris Clark.
View down the ridge from near the summit. Photo
aonghus.
Second station and the summit chapel. Photo
aonghus.
Chapel at the summit of Croagh Patrick. Photo
Roger Herbert.Mt. Croagh Patrick (also spelled Croach Patrick) is a mountain near the town of Westport in County Mayo, Ireland. Each year, as many as one million pilgrims and visitors make the trek to the top to pray at the stations of the cross, participate in Mass, do penance (in which case the rocky journey is undertaken barefoot) or just enjoy the spectacular view.
History
Known in Irish Celtic as Cruach Phádraig and colloquially as "the Reek," Mt. Croagh Patrick has been a sacred site since ancient times. Before the arrival of Christianity, the Celtic people regarded the mountain as the dwelling place of the deity Crom Dubh.
The mountain was the focus of the harvest festival of Lughnasa, traditionally held around August 1. The sacred mountain was especially important for women, who would sleep on the summit during Lughnasa to encourage fertility.
Neolithic art can still be seen on a rock outcropping known as "St. Patrick's Chair" along the path to the top, and a Celtic hill fort was recently uncovered at the base of the mountain.
According to Christian tradition, St. Patrick went up the sacred mountain at festival time in 441 AD. After fasting at the summit for 40 days, he banished all the snakes and demons from Ireland.
The site quickly became an important place of Christian pilgrimage. A stone oratory dating to between 430 and 890 AD was recently discovered on the summit.
Pilgrimage
Mt. Croagh Patrick is the most important Catholic pilgrimage destination in Ireland. Nearly one million visitors, most of them pilgrims, climb to the top every year. Almost 30,000 pilgrims make the trek on the last Sunday in July, known as "Reek Sunday."
For most Catholics who visit Mt. Croagh Patrick, especially on Reek Sunday, the pilgrimage to the top of the sacred mountain is an act of penance. Accordingly, some untake the journey barefoot or even on their knees. The summit has a small chapel where Mass is held each day.
The full pilgrimage route originates in the village of Murrisk, 8km outside Westport. The first main sight on the pilgrimage path is a statue of St. Patrick, erected in 1928 by a Westport pastor. Although it is not one of the official stations (see below), it has become a place of prayer and makes a good goal for those not able to climb all the way to the top.
There are three pilgrimage stations on the way to the summit of Croagh Patrick, each of which has a sign with instructions for the proper rituals and prayers. The stations are as follows:
First Station (Leacht Benáin): Base of the Mountain
- Walk 7 times around the mound of stones while saying: 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys, 1 Creed
Second Station: The Summit
- Kneel and say: 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys, 1 Creed
- Pray near the chapel for the Pope's intentions.
- Walk 15 times around the chapel while saying: 15 Our Fathers, 15 Hail Marys
- Walk 7 times around Leaba Phádraig (Patrick's Bed) saying: 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys, 1 Creed
Third Station: Roilig Mhuire
- Walk 7 times around each mound of stones saying: 7 Our Fathers, 7 Hail Marys, 1 Creed
- Walk 7 times around the whole enclosure of Roilig Mhuire praying.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Mount Croagh Patrick; Croach Patrick; Cruach Phádraig; Croagh Padraig; the Reek |
| Type of site: | Holy mountain; Celtic Christian site; Catholic shrine; pilgrimage |
| Dates: | Sacred since prehistoric times; Patrick said to have climbed in 441 AD |
| Size: | 640 meters high; 762m above sea level |
| Time: | 2 and 3 hours to reach the top, and about 2 to get down |
| Location: | 5 miles from Westport, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Address: | Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre, Teach na Miasa, Murrisk, Co. Mayo, Ireland |
| Phone: | +353 (0) 98 64114 |
| E-mail: | info@croagh-patrick.com |
| Cost: | Free |
| Festival: | Reek Sunday (last Sunday in July) |
| Facilities: | The Information Centre has toilets, a restaurant, a shop, lockers, and even showers (for a fee) |
| Tips: | During midday when most people make the trek, the pace tends to be slow near the top where the path is narrow. There is little shade, so be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen. |
Getting There
The nearest town to Croagh Patrick is Westport in County Mayo, five miles away. Westport is the terminus of a 250-km rail line from Dublin, which serves the town and surrounding area. The N5 national primary route connects the Westport to Castlebar, as well as connecting to the N4 near Longford that leads onward to Dublin.
The other major road passing through Westport is the N59 secondary route, which rambles around the West of Ireland both to the north and south of the town.
The regional airports are Horan International Airport, 60 km (36 miles) away with several flights a day to the United Kingdom, and Galway airport, with daily flights to the United Kingdom.
More Information
- Croagh Patrick in County Mayo - Website dedicated to the holy mountain.
- A Stroll up Croach Patrick - A lighthearted photojournal of a trek to the top of Croagh Patrick.
- Croagh Patrick Information Centre - Information center on the archaeology of Croagh Patrick.
- Croagh Patrick Archaeological Committee - Displays winners of photo competition.
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Mt. Croagh Patrick. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Ireland Map or get our free Google Earth download.
