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Croagh Patrick

Coordinates: 53°45′34″N 9°39′30″W / 53.7595°N 9.6584°W / 53.7595; -9.6584
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Croagh Patrick
Cruach Phádraig
The Reek
Highest point
Elevation764 m (2,507 ft)
Prominence640 m (2,100 ft)
ListingMarilyn, Hewitt
Coordinates53°45′34″N 9°39′30″W / 53.7595°N 9.6584°W / 53.7595; -9.6584
Naming
English translation(Saint) Patrick's Mountain
Language of nameIrish
Geography
Croagh Patrick is located in Ireland
Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick
OSI/OSNI gridL906802
Topo mapOSi Discovery 30, 31, 37 or 38
Climbing
Easiest routeHike

Croagh Patrick (Irish: Cruach Phádraig, meaning '(Saint) Patrick's Stack'),[1] nicknamed the Reek,[2] is a 764 metres (2,507 ft) mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo in Ireland. It is 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. It is climbed by pilgrims on Reek Sunday every year, which is the last Sunday in July. It forms the southern part of a U-shaped valley created by a glacier flowing into Clew Bay in the last Ice Age. Croagh Patrick is part of a longer east-west ridge; the westernmost peak is called Ben Gorm.

Name

Croagh Patrick comes from the Irish Cruach Phádraig meaning "(Saint) Patrick's stack". It is known locally as "the Reek", a Hiberno-English word for a "rick" or "stack".[3] In pagan times it was known as Cruachán Aigle, being mentioned by that name in sources such as Cath Maige Tuired,[4] Buile Shuibhne,[5] The Metrical Dindshenchas,[6] and the Annals of Ulster entry for the year 1113.[7] Cruachán is simply a diminutive of cruach "stack", but it is not certain what Aigle means. It is either from the Latin loan aquila "eagle" (more usually aicile or acaile)[8] or a person's name.[6][9] In addition to its literal meaning, cruach in the pagan name may also have some connection with Crom Cruach.

The Marquess of Sligo, whose seat is nearby Westport House, bears the titles Baron Mount Eagle and Earl of Altamont, both deriving from alternative names (Cruachán Aigle; high mount) for Croagh Patrick.[10]

Pilgrimage

Main article: Reek Sunday

Croagh Patrick has reputedly been a site of pagan pilgrimage, especially for the summer solstice, since 3,000 B.C.[11] It is now a site of Christian pilgrimage associated with Saint Patrick who fasted on the summit for forty days in the fifth century A.D.[12] Thousands of people climb the mountain every Reek Sunday, which is the last Sunday in July. The climb is led by Archbishop of Tuam every year. However the sheer volume of visitors -estimated at 40,000 per year –and the consequential erosion has caused safety concerns to both the Catholic church and local farmers who undertake safety measures. The pilgrimage was cancelled on safety grounds in 2015.[13]

Summit chapel

From St. Patrick's own time, there had been some sort of a little chapel on the summit,[14] called "Teampall Phadraig". an archaeological excavation in 1994 found the remains of a foundation at the summit. In 824 the Archbishops of Armagh and Tuam disagreed as to who had jurisdiction.[15]

A small chapel was built on the summit and dedicated on 20 July 1905. During the pilgrimage on 31 July 2005, a plaque commemorating its centenary was unveiled by Michael Neary, the Archbishop of Tuam.

It was decided[citation needed] in 2005 to open the church every day during the summer, rather than only on holy days. Mass is celebrated in the church on Reek Sunday and on 15 August. It is opened by information guides.

Gold discovery

A seam of gold was discovered in the mountain in the 1980s: overall grades of 14 grams of gold per tonne (0.45 oz gold per ton) in at least 12 quartz veins, which could produce 700,000 tonnes (770,000 short tons) of ore — potentially over 300,000 troy oz of gold (worth over €360m). However, due to local resistance by the Mayo Environmental Group headed by Paddy Hopkins, the Mayo County Council decided not to allow mining.[16]

  • Distant view of mountain from Westport
    Distant view of mountain from Westport
  • Notice at base about Stations for Catholic climbers, with statue of Saint Patrick
    Notice at base about Stations for Catholic climbers, with statue of Saint Patrick
  • Upper slopes of mountain
    Upper slopes of mountain
  • St. Patrick's Oratory at the summit
    St. Patrick's Oratory at the summit
  • St. Patrick's Bed at the summit
    St. Patrick's Bed at the summit
  • Cairn near summit with view of Clew Bay and Mayo mountains
    Cairn near summit with view of Clew Bay and Mayo mountains
  • Chapel at the summit of Croagh Patrick
    Chapel at the summit of Croagh Patrick

See also

References

  1. ^ Croagh Patrick Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved: 2013-07-31.
  2. ^ Croagh Patrick, Taifid chartlainne (archival records) Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved: 2013-07-31.
  3. ^ New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, CD edition 1997, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1973, 1993, 1996.
  4. ^ CELT: The Second Battle of Moytura (translation) - Irish
  5. ^ CELT: Buile Shuibhne (translation) - Irish (Cruachán Oighle)
  6. ^ a b CELT: The Metrical Dindshenchas, 88 Cruachán Aigle (translation) - Irish
  7. ^ CELT: Annals of Ulster 1113 (translation) - Irish
  8. ^ Entry for aicil at eDIL
  9. ^ Old-Irish-L: Cruachan Aigle 31 Jul 2002
  10. ^ George Edward Cokayne ed. Vicary Gibbs, The Complete Peerage, volume I (1910) p. 113.
  11. ^ Historical Interest Teach na Miasa. Retrieved: 2013-07-31.
  12. ^ "In imitation of the great Jewish legislator on Sinai, he spent forty days on its summit in fasting and prayer, and other penitential exercises." Catholic Encyclopedia
  13. ^ Kieran Cooke (11 October 2015). "The holy mountain that's become too popular". BBC news. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  14. ^ McDonald, Michael. "Croagh Patrick." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 21 Feb. 2014
  15. ^ Haggerty, Bridget. "He Came To Mock - But Stayed to Pray", Irish Culture and Customs
  16. ^ "Obituary Paddy Hopkins". The Mayo News. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.

Bibliography

  • Harry Hughes (2010). Croagh Patrick. A Place of Pilgrimage. A Place of Beauty. O'Brien Press. ISBN 9781847171986.
  • Leo Morahan (2001). Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo: archaeology, landscape and people. Westport: Croagh Patrick Archaeological Committee. ISBN 0-9536086-3-8.
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