Our Annual Away Trip takes place next weekend, 13-15th of October. We will be travelling to Co. Mayo to climb Croagh Patrick, at 762m above sea level the 3rd highest mountain in Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin.
Croagh Patrick’s history as a place of worship reaches back in time as far as 3,000 BC. The mountain’s popularity among religious pilgrims dates to the time of St. Patrick, who is said to have completed a forty-day Lenten ritual of fasting and penance here. Legend also has it that Croagh Patrick is the mount from which he banished snakes from Ireland forever! But Croagh Patrick was also a place of tremendous importance in the pre-Christian era, as indicated by the discovery of a Celtic hill fort encircling the summit of the mountain.
All those travelling with us the bus is leaving from The Gap, Jonesborough at 2 pm on Friday. Be sure to pack your walking boots, a waterproof jacket, and walking poles, in addition bring an extra fleece, hat and gloves in your rucksack. Remember only those who regularly walk with us can climb Croagh Patrick with us on Saturday. Despite it’s being a popular pilgrim route, conditions underfoot are not great, loose shale and a well eroded path make this a walk not to be undertaken lightly.