I'd like to wish you a very happy Irish day from the land of St. Patrick. As the Irish all around the world gear up to celebrate St. Patrick' Day on March 17th, there are a lot of other ways in which Ireland honours it's patron saint all year round, one of which is Croagh Patrick mountain.
Croagh Patrick is perhaps the most famous mountain in Ireland. It is linked to St. Patrick because according to tradition, he climbed the mountain in 441 AD and fasted for 40 days on it's summit, mirroring the biblical story of Jesus fasting in the wilderness. This act is said to have been part of his mission to spread Christianity in Ireland.
Legend also has it that it was from the summit of Croagh Patrick that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland, symbolising his victory over paganism.
Croagh Patrick viewed from Clare Island
Originally called Cruachan Aigli until the mid 14th century it is located in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way, and while today it holds a deep religious and cultural significance to Ireland’s patron saint, evidence also suggests that it has been a sacred site for millennia, with evidence of Neolithic art and pre-Christian worship, suggesting it was a place of religious significance before St. Patrick.
The mountain is a major pilgrimage destination with thousands of people climbing the mountain annually, especially on Reek Sunday, (the last Sunday of July), to honour St. Patrick’s legacy. Some pilgrims even walk barefoot as a sign of devotion. But St. Patrick wasn’t the first to pilgrimage up the holy mountain. In pagan times, people would gather at the summit to celebrate the beginning of the harvest season (known as Lughnasa), around the beginning of August.
Located in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way, Croagh Patrick is 764 meters (2,507 feet) high and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to hike to the summit. The effort is well worth it as you rewarded with some breathtaking views of Clew Bay.
Definately one location to include on the list if you visit County Mayo.
I’ll be posting again soon with new additions to my Fine Art Photography Collections and other news. In the meantime please view other photographs of the unique and stunning Irish landscape.
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Cheers
