AUDIO Westport locals make the special journey up Croagh Patrick

Mary Rice, Westport, left, with Mary Conroy, Manchester after climbing Croagh Patrick on Garland Friday, July 23.

AUDIO Westport locals make the special journey up Croagh Patrick


Rowan Gallagher

Hundreds of people from Westport and surrounding areas kept a local tradition alive by scaling Croagh Patrick today, Garland Friday. A special Mass was held at 10am on the summit this morning and another Mass will be held in the car park at the foot of the Holy Mountain this evening, ahead of Reek Sunday.
Garland Friday is seen as a less hectic day to climb the mountain as people do not have to contend with the massive crowds that arrive for the annual national pilgrimage. Up to 30,000 people are expected to climb the Mayo mountain on Sunday.
Weather was kind to the climbers today but there is light rain promised by Met Éireann for the Sunday climbers with temperatures expected  at 18 degrees or lower.
Kevin Moloney who sells sticks at the bottom of The Reek found that business wasn’t booming today as many of the climbers brought their own sticks.
This Reek Sunday is expected to bring a lot of business to the local area, with people staying in B&Bs and spending money locally.
Mayo Mountain Rescue have issued a warning to this year’s set of climbers, asking people to wear multiple layers, wear correct footwear and to carry adequate food and water for the climb.
Calls have been made by local people to have a railing installed on the last stretch of the mountain climb (the cone) in order to reduce the number of injuries sustained by climbers.
Meters have been put in place in order to charge people to park at the foot of the mountain but they have not yet been activated.

Mass times for the weekend ahead:
Saturday, July 24: Archbishop Michael Neary will celebrate the vigil Mass at 6.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Westport.
Sunday, July 25:  First Mass in the oratory on the summit at 8am. Then every half-hour until 2pm. Mass at 10am will be in Irish. Mass at 10.30am will be celebrated by Archbishop Michael Neary. Confessions will be heard continuously from 7.30am until 2.30pm. Reek Sunday Masses in Westport are at 10.30am and 12 midday.




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Listen to Westport people talk to The Mayo News about their traditional climb of Croagh Patrick on Garland Friday, ahead of Reek Sunday.

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