Facilities at Croagh Patrick's foot getting refurbished

The contract for the total refurbishment of the toilets at Murrisk Car Park, which serves all the pilgrims climbing Croagh Patrick, has been awarded. Work to commence in the next few weeks.

Westport’s Cllr Christy Hyland, who has campaigned passionately over the last number of years for this work to take place, is delighted that an upgrade project is now being scheduled.

Cllr Hyland has said the toilets were an embarrassment, not for purpose ‘in this day and age’, especially for such an important pilgrimage site.

“The actual building is in good shape, but the total new fit out was very necessary, as Croagh Patrick is climbed every day of the year.” said the councillor, welcoming announcement of the Reek-foot facility plans.

“A high standard of toilets was of the utmost importance to send out a message that nothing short of high standards will suffice,” he said, adding: “I am happy that council officials finally listened to me and took my request on board and that we will now have toilets that will serve all the people, whatever their needs may be from a health point of view.”

He also said given there had been ‘many complaints’ regarding the standard of the public toilets, he looked forward to the day when ‘we can all be proud’ of the standard of basic facilities at Mayo’s holy mountain, without ‘the need to be embarrassed any more’.