Search Results for 'Croagh Patrick'

The Rolling Sun Book Festival, set in Westport, County Mayo, is a quirky boutique festival that indulges bookworms and connoisseurs of music, song, and poetry. Set in the shadow of the ancient spiritual mountain, Croagh Patrick, it evokes the many layers of Irish culture in the best bardic and poetic traditions. The festival kicked off last night, Thursday November 3, with poet Ger Reidy launching Lady Cassie Peregrina a poetry collection by Terry McDonagh in the Custom House Studio and will continue with a jam packed number of days until it finishes on Sunday November 6.

There are not many locations within the boundaries of Mayo from where a vista of Croagh Patrick cannot be gained from even the smallest naturally raised platform. The mountain, with its distinctive pyramidal shape, is an iconic symbol of the county for the people of Mayo. Better known today as a venue for an annual Christian pilgrimage, the Reek’s history is one of changing uses.

The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail Autumn Walking Festival is taking place over three days from Friday September 23 and Sunday September 25. So make a note on your calendar as this is an opportunity to get the walking boots on and enjoy the spectacular late summer views and walk this beautiful trail taking in the wild Mayo landscape, with spectacular views of Croagh Patrick along the way.

Mayo will see an influx of some 40,000 people this weekend with both the annual Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage and the Bonniconlon Show seeing thousands come to the county to take part in the events.

Michael Ring, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, and Cllr Michael Holmes, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, officially opened the new Mulranny footpath and village enhancement scheme last Friday morning. The multi-million euro development consisted of 1.8 kilometres of improvements to the N59 comprising new footpaths, traffic calming, pavements, a viewing promenade, bicycle lanes, pedestrian crossings, picnic tables, and benches.

Mayo Mountain Rescue, the voluntary organisation which responds to hundreds of call outs each year from people in distress or injured on mountains around the county, is currently counting the cost of last Sunday's annual Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage.

Just days before an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people are set to scale Ireland's 'holiest mountain' for Reek Sunday, strong calls have been issued to Mayo County Council to do more to protect the ancient pilgrimage site.

Next Sunday, the last Sunday in July, is Reek Sunday which celebrates the national pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain. Several thousands of people are expected to make the arduous climb, which can take over two hours to get to its summit. If it’s a clear day the views across Connemara, and along the coast line, are spectacular. If the climb is made in misty weather, then it becomes an adventure of another kind. Whatever the weather there is a real sense of camaraderie, and shared humanity; a feeling too that to take a few hours out of our busy lives, to concentrate on the effort of the climb, and support our fellow travellers, is ‘to experience a life time in miniature.’

Sunday week, July 26, is Reek Sunday, or Garland Sunday or Garlic Sunday or even Crom Dubh Sunday, and I am sure there are many other names to describe the  famous pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick, when many thousands climb to its rocky summit.

A Westport man, whose heartbreaking loss of both of his parents to brain tumours prompted him to organise a fundraiser on Croagh Patrick in their honour, says he is extremely grateful for the support he has received for his efforts to raise awareness about the condition.