Well-known Mayo man climbs Croagh Patrick for the sixty-eighth time

Paddy Joe Foy and his horse Podge will be familiar to both locals and tourists in Westport. 

They are licensed to carry five passengers in Foy’s distinctive red wagonette. 

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The 85-year-old man first climbed the Reek when he was 16. 

Since then, each year, he climbs on Garland Friday, the Friday before Reek Sunday, as “that's when all the locals climb.” This year was his 68th time on the pilgrimage.

Keeping a steady pace and without any breaks, he walked up in an hour and half and then down in an hour and a half too. 

One of the big changes he has noticed since first climbing the Reek is that now people are climbing it for pleasure and he is full of praise for the pilgrim path works on the mountain. 

“It's a good job they've done because otherwise it'll be eroded completely. There's thousands climbing there every other day. They’re not climbing for a pilgrimage at all.”

READ MORE: Well-known Mayo man climbs Croagh Patrick for the sixty-seventh time

The proud Aughagower man shares that “a lot of people don't realise but the Reek pilgrimages starts in Aughagower. That's where it starts. There's three wells. There is no water in them. When I was a little lad, I seen a little bit of water, that's where it started.” 

Aghagower or Achadh Fhobhair ‘Field of the Springs’ was the first monastery founded in Aghagower.

Religion is a very important part of Paddy Joe’s life and he believes in going to mass and “trying to do the best you can and help people along the way.” For him, that’s the secret. 

He looks at younger generations and wonders if they realise or value the pilgrimage. 

“With so many things now,  the religious end of it is taking a backward step in anything, even in churches, you can see it all over.”

His next pilgrimage “is not as steep as Croagh Patrick” and will be to Máméan in Connemara next Sunday.