Pilgrims planning on climbing Croagh Patrick this Reek Sunday are being asked to look out for each to reduce accidents.
Pilgrims asked to look out for each other on mountain this week-end 
Anton McNulty PILGRIMS planning to climb Croagh Patrick this Reek Sunday have been asked to look out for their fellow climbers to ensure that there are no serious accidents on the mountain.
Upwards of 25,000 pilgrims from all over Ireland are expected to descend on the village of Murrisk to take part in the annual pilgrimage to climb the famous mountain and follow in the footsteps of St Patrick.
The majority of climbers safely negotiate the climb up and down the mountain but because of the sheer scale of numbers safety remains a major cause of concern for all the organisers. The majority of injuries are normally little more than sprains and cuts and bruises but unfortunately some have to stretchered down the mountain suffering from leg and head injuries, and in some cases, hypothermia.
Reek Sunday is one of the busiest days of the year for the Mayo Mountain Rescue, the Order of Malta and other emergencies services and is the culmination of months of planning. To ensure everyone returns safely they have asked pilgrims to look out for each other.
“Every year on Reek Sunday some pilgrims lose control and run the risk of injuring either themselves or others in their path. On the mountain, don’t rush, take time to help others, let faster pilgrims pass if they wish and be prepared for sudden occurrences on the mountain,” said Dick Harnedy of Mayo Mountain Rescue.
On the day, Mayo Mountain Rescue, Team operating from its base camp at the rear of the mountain, act as the co-ordinating team for activities of eleven Mountain Rescue Teams from all over the country, which will see in excess of 150 mountain rescue personnel on the mountain for the day (and night) of the pilgrimage. In addition to the mountain rescue presence, the event is a huge undertaking for the Order of Malta who also expect to have in excess of 170 personnel strategically located all over the mountain to offer emergency medical assistance to pilgrims in need.
“Safety is a cause of major concern to all the organisations involved in the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage,” added Dick. “With the approach of this year’s pilgrimage, Mayo Mountain Rescue Team on behalf of all the mountain rescue and Order of Malta medical personnel would appeal to all intending pilgrims to plan ahead and be prepared to stay safe when undertaking the pilgrimage
“The most significant thing that Mayo Mountain Rescue would say to those planning the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage is that they have a duty of care and a responsibility to themselves to ensure their own safety. The unfortunate reality is that inevitably the limited resources are taken up with some very serious rescues and evacuations off the mountain. Cases need to be prioritised and because of the sheer numbers on the mountain, people with less serious injuries may find themselves waiting some time for assistance from mountain rescue teams.”
To ensure everyone returns home safely, Mayo Mountain Rescue have asked pilgrims to consider the following tips: Mountain Considerations The most popular pilgrim path runs from sea level at Murrisk to the summit, a distance of approximately 7kms round trip. Pilgrims should be in reasonably good health and confidently capable of walking this distance.
Climbing Barefoot? Quite a number of people of all variety of ages still undertake the traditional barefoot pilgrimage. If people are intent on going barefoot it is suggested that they at least bring some form of footwear with them which they can put on if the effort becomes too painful or excessive.
Proper Footwear Any footwear designed for moderate hill walking activities and which provide good ankle support are probably the best choice of footwear. Flip-flops, wellingtons, sandals and stilettos are not recommended.
Dress for the occasion The temperature at the summit of Croagh Patrick can vary as much as 5-10 degrees cooler than at Murrisk. The key to proper dressing is to ensure multiple layers which can be added or removed as required.
Sticks or walking poles For all pilgrims on the mountain, a stick or walking pole of some description is considered a useful aid on the mountain.
Food and Drink It is recommended that pilgrims bring a bottle of water and some small amount of food with them onto the mountain as a minimum.
Leave No Trace Every year the pilgrim path is unfortunately littered with plastic bottles, food wrappers and items of discarded clothing. On the pilgrimage try to adopt the simple country side code.
Know your limits When climbing avoid pushing yourself to exhaustion. Pace yourself and take as many rest stops as you need.
{mospagebreak title=Live coverage gave the Reek 'a new audience'}
Live coverage gave the Reek ‘a new audience’
Anton McNulty LAST year’s Mass from the summit of Croagh Patrick which, was broadcast live on RTÉ, brought Reek Sunday to a new audience and the images of Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay helped to advertise the region all over the world.
The Mass from the summit was broadcast live on RTÉ and on the worldwide web for the first time and it was claimed that the fine weather shown on television encouraged more people to climb the holy mountain.
The broadcast was produced by Fr Michael Melvin of Kairos Communications whose lifetime ambition was to broadcast live from Croagh Patrick. Unfortunately Fr Melvin died unexpectedly within a few weeks of achieving his goal and according to Westport administrator, Fr Francis Mitchell without Fr Melvin’s knowledge it would never have been done.
“It was a huge challenge logistically to get power to the top of the mountain and bring three miles of cable and all the equipment up to the top. It took months to organise and the production team did a great job but without Fr Melvin it would never have been done. He used all his influence and knowledge and gathered a team around him to pull it off.
“There was a huge amount of positive feedback from all over the world and there was pressure put on RTE to produce a copy of the Mass. The broadcast of the Mass allowed people who can’t climb the mountain to see the summit and in their own way take part in the own pilgrimage,” he said.
Fr Mitchell said that the Kairos Communications received hundreds of cards and e-mails congratulating them on the production and were still getting them after the sudden death of Fr Melvin.
There were no more plans to broadcast a live Mass in the near future but Fr Mitchell said the timetable for this year’s National Pilgrimage will be the same as usual. Mass will be celebrated at the summit at 8.00am and every half-hour thereafter until the last Mass at 2.00 pm. The 10.00 am Mass will be celebrated in Irish, and Archbishop Neary will celebrate Mass at 10.30 am while confessions will be heard continuously from 7.30 am to 2.30pm.
{mospagebreak title=Westport pilgrims love that Friday feeling'}
Westport pilgrims love that Friday feeling Anton McNulty REEK Sunday is formally known as the National Pilgrimage when thousands of people from around Ireland come to climb Croagh Patrick but for many local people it is Friday when they do their climbing.
Garland Friday, always on the last Friday in July, has for years been the traditional day when people from Westport and the surrounding villages have their pilgrimage. For people like Paddy Joy Foy and Margaret Joyce it is a pilgrimage they never miss and between them they have climbed it nearly 100 times.
For Paddy Joe of the Drummindoo Equestrian Centre this year will be his 52nd year to climb the mountain since he first did it when he was 15. The only year he did not climb it was in 1960 when he was in England and he admits feelings ‘a sense of loss’ that particular year.
“I felt that something inside me was not right and I felt a part of me was missing. I like to go up Croagh Patrick and the challenge of it. On the way down it is peaceful and quiet and is very satisfying and gratifying. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. If I couldn’t go I wouldn’t feel right and as long as I am healthy to go, I’ll be there,” he said.
A native of Aughagower, Paddy Joe traditionally climbs the Reek from the Taobh na Cruaiche side of the mountain which he says was the route his family took when he was young. When Paddy Joe first climbed it, it was done at night-time and he admits prayers were not always on their mind.
“If right was right we should have been been praying and doing the stations but we would meet up with the local lads and have the craic,” he laughs. “For a lot of the youngsters it was a social night out. With the darkness we didn’t know where we were going and looking back I don’t know how no one was killed. The nice thing about it was when you would be reaching the top, the day would be breaking and it was a great feeling. But I wouldn’t encourage climbing at night.”
For Margaret Joyce the most enjoyable aspect of climbing the Reek on Friday is doing it with people you know and because of the smaller crowd, the locals are able to have Mass inside the church. She first climbed the mountain with the Westport Youth Club in 1970 as a 13 year-old and has climbed it ever since.
“I have done it every year since and sometimes twice a year. It is always a great achievement to climb it and is a time of the year when you are away from the hustle and bustle of work. Each year you have a different reason for climbing it and you when you get to the top you have time to think and reflect,” she said.
