Pilgrim routes to Mt Patrick in Ireland?

[BobM]

Can anyone tell me about pilgrim routes terminating at Mt Patrick in Ireland? I assume they exist.

Bob M

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Bob, I just walked from the bottom of Croagh Patrick up. I remember someone from an Irish tourist board of some sort making a forum post- perhaps late 2008- about their intention to develop some pilgrim routes. I know there are long distance walking routes in Ireland, but don't think there is much infrastructure in terms of accommodation etc. But I am not sure there are 'pilgrim routes' as such yet. I could be wrong.
Margaret

 

[BobM]

Thx, Margaret. I found this website, but it only covers the final stage to the mountain:
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/irel ... gh-patrick

Quoting the website:
"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. The full pilgrimage route originates in the village of Murrisk, 8km outside Westport".

How long did the walk take for you?

Normally I walk in shoes (not being a barefoot flagellant), but the route seems very stony.

Regards

Bob M

 

[KiwiNomad06]

It only takes a few hours from Murrisk, but it is at a very northerly latitude, so you have to be very wary of weather conditions, and you can't always climb. I wrote about my experience here. http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/margar17/croagh.htm There are signs at the bottom warning you not to climb if it's wet etc. It was calm but overcast when I started, and it turned out to be quite an adventure coming down, when it was wet and very very windy. (I slipped on some rocks and was blown around on the ground!!)

It is very stony, and on an 'ordinary' day, nearly everybody wore shoes. Maybe on Reek Sunday it is different. I think I only saw one man without shoes, and he had two young children with him, whose clothing was quite inadequate for the conditions. (I wasn't impressed.)

I have a book that lists a longer walk said to be a ten hour pilgrim walk, starting from Ballintubber Abbey and finishing at Murrisk. If you send me your e-mail address via PM I could scan it and e-mail it to you Bob.
Margaret

By the way, this is the original thread I was thinking of Bob, from April 2009. http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/miscellaneous-topics/topic5597.html

 

[BobM]

Very helpful, Margaret - especially your blog.

I will be in the Uk in late April and I would like to climb Mt Patrick while I am in the region. Given your comments on weather (you walked in August?), I need to find out more about what spring is like.

BTW, my Via Francigena walk is looking unlikely this year, alas.

Regards

Bob M

 

[McNickj]

Hi BobM
I've included some links to marked Pilgrim walks in and around Croagh(pronounced CROW) Patrick and know locally as the 'Reek'... note it's never referred to as Mt Patrick that I know of ...I was born close by...it's not an easy climb but very worthwhile if the weather is clear...NB it's located on the west coast of Ireland and most definitely not in the UK....
Enjoy if you do go there,,, it's a beautiful part of the world

Slan, Jim

http://www.dunningspub.com/croagh_patrick__ireland.htm
http://www.ballintubberabbey.ie/histPath.htm
http://www.mayowalks.ie/WalkingTrails/L ... d.en.10639
http://www.mayowalks.ie/WalkingTrails/

 

[BobM]

Hi BobM
I've included some links to marked Pilgrim walks in and around Croagh Patrick ...NB it's located on the west coast of Ireland and most definitely not in the UK....

Thx, Jim, for the useful comments - especially re pronunciation - and the weblinks.

I did not express myself well in my first post. I will be in the UK in late April and I also plan to go to Ireland to climb Croagh Patrick and do some other travel in Ireland, hopefully about 8 days in total.

Regards

Bob M

 

[McNickj]

Hi Bob,

only joking about the UK bit...the Irish sense of humour...Croagh Patrick well worth a visit and amazing views if the weather is clear...it's not always raining...I wouldn't go out of my way to visit the Shrine in Knock....not a lot to see and it's very commercialised....

Slan Jim