‘EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION’ Martin Keating, MCC.
Áine Ryan
A consultant has been appointed to undertake a detailed report on the condition and conservation of holy mountain Croagh Patrick with projected plans to start essential works during 2017. The 764 metre-high mountain was dubbed ‘the worst-damaged pathway in the UK and Ireland’ by a mountaineering expert at a seminar held in Murrisk in 2013.
Recently appointed by the Croagh Patrick Stakeholders’ Group, Mr Chris York of Scottish company Walking-The-Talk, has ‘extensive experience’ of projects in the Scottish highlands, as well as here in Ireland on Errigal, Co Donegal and the Galtee Mountains, Co Tipperary.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday), Martin Keating, Chairman of the stakeholders’ group, said ‘the detailed report would break the mountain and its pathways into sections’ and develop plans and recommendations for the best conservational options to be implemented.’
“The brief will demand that there is sufficient detail so that the project can be brought to the planning process after extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders before the summer,” said Mr Keating, Head of Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture at Mayo County Council.
Meanwhile, a Government inter-departmental group is continuing to work on a national indemnity scheme to protect landowners and farmers if someone is injured on their lands.
Croagh Patrick is accessed by some 100,000 pilgrims and walkers annually, with up to 30,000 of these climbing the 764 metre mountain over the annual Reek Sunday weekend at the end of July.
Community response
ESTABLISHED in November 2015, the Croagh Patrick Stakeholders Group was formed as a community response to concerns over the condition of the mountain together with concerns around safety, liability of shareholders and landowners, the status of the Croagh Patrick as Ireland’s holy mountain and the absence of structures to manage the impact of growing numbers of recreational users on the natural environment, habitats and ecosystems of the area.
The group represents commonage owners, the local Catholic church, the Murrisk community, Mayo County Council, South West Mayo Development Company, Mayo Mountain Rescue, Croagh Patrick Archaeological Society and the tourism and adventure sports sector.
