Saints and Stones: Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phadraig)
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Croagh Patrick is a 2,510 foot mountain and an important site of pilgrimage associated with St. Patrick who reputedly fasted on the summit of the mountain for 40 days in the 5th Century A.D.and built a church there. On "Reek Sunday," the last Sunday in July every year, over 15,000 pilgrims climb the mountain.

Croagh Patrick has been a sacred site since before the arrival of Celtic Christianity. An 1994 excavation discovered that Croagh Patrick was a place of tremendous importance in the pre-Christian Era when a Celtic hillfort encircling the summit of the mountain was found. A number of small stone hut circles were also found adjacent to the site.

A dry stone oratory, radio carbon-dated to between 430 and 890 A.D., has also been found on the mountain. It is one of the oldest stone churches in Ireland.

About Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phadraig)

Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre (Teach na Miasa)
Wikipedia: Croagh Patrick
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: Croagh Patrick
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Patrick
Wikipedia: St. Patrick
Travels-in-Time: Croagh Patrick Summit

Journey to Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phadraig)

Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phadraig) is located off the R335 near the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey, 5 miles from Westport in County Mayo, Ireland.

Map Reference: L9182

Visitors Information

Visitors information for Croagh Patrick may be found at the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre website. General tourist information for the area may be found on the Westport Tourism website.

Additional Photos of Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phadraig)

Croagh Patrick Descriptive Sign
Croagh Patrick Information Sign
Initial Steps to Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick Warning Sign
Statue of St. Patrick and Croagh Patrick (right)
Beginning of the Path to the Summit, Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick
Statue of St. Patrick and Coast of County Mayo
Croagh Patrick Logo

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