New pilgrim loop proposed for Reek

Neill O’Neill

Lecanvey residents have come up with an idea that could reduce future wear and tear on Croagh Patrick’s pilgrim path. The community is proposing that a new loop walk be developed that would incorporate the existing traditional route to the summit for the ascent but use a different existing route for the descent.
At a meeting of the West Mayo Municipal District held in Lecanvey Community Centre yesterday (Monday), the centre’s committee presented the idea to County Council executives and elected members, and it was positively received.
Speaking at the meeting, Therese Staunton of Lecanvey Community Centre Committee said that locals wanted to help save the existing pilgrim route, described by Scottish mountaineering expert Bob Aitkins as ‘the worst-damaged pathway in the UK and Ireland’ .
Concern around the erosion issue has been intensifying in recent years, and a stakeholders group, chaired by Mayo County Council’s Head of Environment, Martin Keating, has been formed. This group has been making steady progress in relation to developing a plan for Croagh Patrick in recent months.
Under the proposal by the Lecanvey community, users of Croagh Patrick would still begin and end in Murrisk, but on reaching the summit by the existing pilgrim route from Murrisk, they would descend in the direction of Lecanvey on an existing ancient pilgrimage path, before meeting a new pathway that would be constructed through commonage nearer the base of the mountain. This path would lead them back to the statue of St Patrick, which currently marks the beginning of the ascent in Murrisk.
Ms Staunton said that the creation of this loop would have a low ecological impact and would result in a path through peaceful commonage with elevated views of Clew Bay and the surrounding countryside. She explained that it would be a low-cost option, as the Lecanvey pilgrim path is already in place, though it would need to be marked.
Ms Staunton also said that the new path at the base of the mountain could form part of a bigger Greenway, which could be extended further out towards Louisburgh.
Croagh Patrick is an asset to the Lecanvey community, Ms Staunton added, saying there is a young and growing community in the village, which they wished to keep vibrant. Implementing this loop walk from Murrisk to Lecanvey, via the summit of Croagh Patrick, would be an important part of this, she concluded.
It was further pointed out by a member of the community that this loop route could in fact be a safety enhancement for Croagh Patrick, which sees a large volume of callouts for Mayo Mountain Rescue and the Coast Guard Rescue 118 helicopter from Sligo each year.
Cllrs Christy Hyland, Paul McNamara, Teresa McGuire, Gerry Coyle and Michael Holmes all responded to the idea, speaking about the challenges facing rural Ireland. Each was complimentary to the members of the Lecanvey community for their proactive attitude.
Cllr Tereasa McGuire supported the idea that Croagh Patrick does not belong to any one community, while Cllr Gerry Coyle said that unlike some other aspects of rural Ireland that are being eroded or enduring great change, Croagh Patrick ‘cannot be moved to China or sold to a foreign bank’.
“Let’s promote and enhance what we have,” he said.