Get Lost Mountaineering

Croagh Patrick from Murrisk

Start/Finish

Pay and Display car park in Murrisk village, 3 euro in 2018, on R 335 between Westport and Louisburgh. It is a large car park but not large enough for busy days, usually around the end of July.

Distance/Time

8 km.      About 3 – 4 hours.

Peaks

Croagh Patrick, 764 m, L 906 802.    Irish National Grid System)

Irish Adventure Series Map: South Mayo

Introduction

Croagh Patrick claims to be Ireland's Holy Mountain as St. Patrick reportedly slept on its summit once. There is now a small chapel on the summit. Croagh Patrick is, undoubtedly, the most popular mountain in Ireland with hundreds climbing it each day in the summer. There is a “special day” in late July when up to 25,000 people climb it, many as part of a pilgrimage. The path up the mountain is very rough and stony. Frankly, it is a disgrace. Mountaineers will cope with it but occasional walkers will struggle and it will be beyond some to reach the summit despite the religious euphoria they will enjoy on getting to the top. A better path is long, long overdue. If Ireland cannot put a decent path on its most popular mountain, where can it put one? There are toilets halfway and on the summit but the summit ones can soon run out of water in the summer. The toilets in the car park are an absolute disgrace. They are foul smelling and fly infested. Whoever is responsible for this sad state of affairs should hang their head in shame and consider their position. The weathe ron Croagh Patrick can be very fickle so go prepared. There are excellent coastal views in clear weather. Inland, one can see the Sheefry Hills, Ben Lugmore, Ben Bury and Mweelrea.

Route

(1) Walk out of the top of the car park and follow a tarmac road to the statue of St. Patrick. The rough path starts here. Be prepared to wander around to find the best walking and avoiding the worst of the eroded sections. About halfway up, reach a more level section after which the path becomes steeper than ever and picks its way up the side of some scree. Progress will be slow. Eventually, the angle eases and one arrives on the summit where there is a plaque, a chapel, a large sign and a fenced off rectangle signed as St. Patrick's Bed. Near all of these is a large cairn which is the summit of Croagh Patrick, 764 m. The chapel is usually open for those who wish to shelter or indulge it religiously

(2) Retrace the outward route with considerable care on the loose rock underfoot.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 17^th July, 2018, and about 22 years earlier.