Spiritual Destination: Mt. Croagh Patrick

Each year, millions of pilgrims and visitors make the long trek up this magnificent mountain site near the town of Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland. The spiritual destination of Mt. Croagh Patrick (also known as Croach Patrick) is a welcoming site to the masses of visitors who make the trek to pray at

the cross, participate in Mass, or just enjoy the spectacular view. Amongst the many are those who take this rocky journey barefoot in which to participate in the religious and spiritual penance.

Mt. Croagh Patrick had been a sacred site during the ancient times and before the arrival of Christianity, the Celtic people regarded the mountain as the dwelling place of the deity, the Celtic God.

Traditionally, the mountain had been the focus point of a harvest festival in August which was especially important for women. Many of these women would sleep on the mountain’s summit during the festival to encourage fertility.

According to Christian tradition, St. Patrick went up this mountain during the festival time in 441 Ad and after fasting on the summit for about 40 days he banished all the snakes and demons from Ireland.

Because of this, the site quickly became an important place of Christian pilgrimage with Neolithic are still seen on a rock outcropping the path to the top. Not too long ago a stone oratory, a Celtic rock fort, was uncovered at the base of the mountain. According to local legend, if a person climbs out of the oratory via the window opening, their soul will be cleansed.

This mountain is the most important Catholic pilgrimage destination in Ireland with nearly one million visitors, most pilgrims, each year. The last Sunday in July, known as “Reek Sunday,” holds almost 30,000 climbers alone. For most Catholics who visit especially on Reek Sunday, the pilgrimage to the top is an act of penance and climb the mountain to reach the summit where Mass is held in a small chapel each day.

Over the course of the full pilgrimage, there are three stopping stations on the way to the Croagh Patrick summit. Each station had individual signs with instructions for the proper rituals and prayers.