Date: 8/28/2018
Who: myself
Length: about 4.5 miles (2.25 up + 2.25 down)
Time: 2 hours
Weather: cloudy, windy, rainy, cool
This hike was during the trip to Ireland last Summer with my mom. Croagh Patrick is known as Ireland’s holy mountain, because Saint Patrick is reputed to have fasted and prayed on the summit. When I realized that we were so close to this famous mountain, I knew that I wanted to hike it if possible.
The day started with a 15 minute taxi ride from our hotel in Westport, County Mayo to the trailhead. I hiked alone up the trail, and into the clouds to reach the summit. There is a chapel on the summit, but it was closed and locked. The weather worsened during the time on trail, and it was raining gently for the descent.
This sign at the bottom of the trail describes activities required to complete the Croagh Patrick “pilgrimage”. I heard that some pilgrims even make the hike barefooted! I completed the hike, but not the pilgrimage requirements.
This hike followed the BLUE line:
View Colorado Chris Hikes in a larger map
After the hike, I had lunch with my mom in Westport. That evening, our tour group enjoyed a private concert of live traditional Irish music at Matt Molloy’s pub, with Peter Molloy (flute), Joseph O’Leary (fiddle, bodhran), and Tony Reidy (guitar, vocals).
