Warning for climbers on Reek Sunday

Injuries now more likely on eroded cone of Croagh Patrick

Áine Ryan

AS the seriousness of injuries increases due to the levels of erosion on the cone of holy mountain Croagh Patrick, the country’s biggest mountain rescue operation will be implemented next weekend for the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage (July 30).
Mayo Mountain Rescue (MMR) will coordinate the massive operation, which involves all Mountain Rescue Ireland’s teams, as well as rescue teams from the UK.
Some 120 mountain rescue personnel from the mountain rescue teams across Ireland and the UK assist in the operation.
“Though it is the busiest weekend operationally for the Mayo rescue team, separately there has been an increase of 60 percent in callouts in the county for the first half of 2017 with 27 callouts by early July,” a spokeswoman for MMR said yesterday (Monday).  
“The team advise that all climbers make safety a priority. We recommend the use of proper walking boots, waterproof clothing, food and water and to be mindful of fitness levels and ability of young children. The weather is very changeable and temperatures can vary by as much as seven degrees between sea-level and the summit,” she continued.
The rescue team will co-ordinate the rescue and emergency care services for some 25,000 pilgrims who will climb Croagh Patrick over the coming weekend, with an average of 20 casualties over the 24-hour period on the Sunday.
They will be supported by all the local divisions of the  Order of Malta, Mayo County Council personnel, the Irish Air Corps, An Garda SíochΡna, the Coast Guard, Civil Defense groups, Westport Church, Murrisk Development Association and local landowners.
‘Extreme caution’
SPEAKING about the operation, Keelan Moran, of the Westport Order of Malta unit, said: “As this is such a large-scale and unpredictable event, planning has been taking place for months and all involved are keen to ensure the safety of all climbers. The Mayo Mountain Rescue team have had high numbers of callouts already this year, with the majority being on the holy mountain. As a result, extreme caution is urged for all climbers given the dangers posed by the climb.”
He reiterated the need for proper gear and provisions, including water.
Last month The Mayo News revealed how the litany of casualties on Croagh Patrick has left Mayo Mountain Rescue (MMR) with its busiest first six months of the year since its foundation 25 years ago. Injuries sustained by 27 victims of falls since January were mainly on the treacherous cone of the mountain and have been ‘more serious head and lower limb injuries’, it emerged. These figures were confirmed as the Croagh Patrick Stakeholders Group revealed that expert consultant, Chris York, has advised that the cone and summit ‘poses a number of quite unique challenges which is making it difficult to specify a solution that will fit into the landscape and which will succeed in keeping visitors on the path’.
Speaking at the time, the MMR spokeswoman said: “There is a lack of understanding by many users of the mountain of the level of difficulty it poses. With the numbers increasing all the time – there were over 122,000 last year – climbers need to make safety a priority. Be mindful of weather conditions, fitness levels of you and your party, knowledge of terrain, ability to navigate, route planning and gear.”