Overview
Croagh Patrick, nicknamed the Reek, is a 764 m mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in Mayo, Ireland. It is 8 km from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey.
Description
It is the fourth highest mountain in Mayo on the international P600 listing after Mweelrea, Nephin and Barrclashcame. Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain, draws attention on the Wild Atlantic Way route between Westport and Louisburgh. According to legend, Saint Patrick spent 40 days and nights on the mountain, fasting and praying and also to have banished snakes from the island forever.
In memory of St. Patrick is celebrated here once a year, on Reek Sunday – the last sunday of July – during which thousands of pilgrims climb the mountain – some of them barefoot or on all fours.