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Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick (Irish: Cruach Phádraig ) is a mountain in the west of Ireland and an important site of pilgrimage. It is located from Westport, County Mayo above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. On "Reek Sunday", the last Sunday in July every year, over 15,000 pilgrims climb the mountain. The mountain 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; to the west is the mountain Ben Goram.

Croagh Patrick derives its name from the Irish Cruach Phádraig "(St) Patrick's stack", and is known locally as the Reek, which is a Hiberno-English word for a "rick" or "stack". In pagan times it was known as Cruachán Aigle, being mentioned by that name in the story of Cath Maige Tuired and in the Annals of Ulster entry for the year 1113. 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) or a person's name. In addition to its literal meaning, cruach in the pagan name may also have some connection with Crom Cruach.

A seam of gold was discovered in the mountain in the 1980s: overall grades of of gold per tonne in at least 12 quartz veins, which could produce of ore. Mayo County Council elected not to allow mining, deciding that the gold was "fine where it was".

Pilgrimage

Croagh Patrick (Crum Cru) has been a site of pilgrimage, especially at the summer solstice, since before the arrival of Celtic Christianity in the first century; possibly since before the arrival of the Celts. At present it is named for Saint Patrick, who reputedly fasted on the summit of Croagh Patrick for forty days in the fifth century and built a church there. It is said that at the end of Saint Patrick's 40-day fast, he threw a silver bell down the side of the mountain, knocking the she-demon Corra from the sky and banishing all the snakes from Ireland.

A Civil Defence survey conducted on 30 July 2006 indicated that there were approximately 15,000 pilgrims in 2006, fewer than in previous years, but heavy rain early that morning had been a deterrent. Two thirds of the pilgrims in 2006 were male. The pilgrims included participants from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, Italy, Latvia, India, Hungary and Canada. There were 3,500 first-time climbers .

The chapel at the summit

In modern times, a small chapel was built on the summit, and dedicated on 20 July 1905. On 31 July 2005, during the annual pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick, or "Reek or Garland Sunday" as it is known locally, a plaque commemorating the centenary of the building and dedication of the chapel was unveiled by Most Rev. Michael Neary, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuam.

Having celebrated the centenary of the building of the church on the summit, it was decided in 2005 to open the church every day during the summer, rather than only on holy days. Mass is celebrated in the church every last Sunday in July (Reek Sunday) and every 15 August. The church is opened by information guides.