Reek Sunday: Annual Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage
This Sunday, Archbishop Eamon Martin will join with thousands of pilgrims of all ages in the annual pilgrimage to the summit of Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain, for Reek Sunday 2023.
By Oisín Walsh
https://catholicnews.ie/archbishop-eamon-martin-to-climb-croagh-patrick-on-reek-sunday/
This Sunday, Archbishop Eamon Martin will join with thousands of pilgrims of all ages in the annual pilgrimage to the summit of Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain, for Reek Sunday 2023.
Link to homily:
Father Charlie McDonnell, Administrator of the local parish of Westport, Co Mayo, in the Archdiocese Tuam, welcomed the news that Archbishop Martin will celebrate Mass in Westport on 29 July, and on the summit of Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday, and also that this year’s Reek Sunday pilgrimage has been designated as one of the key initiatives to highlight the Year for Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood, which is taking place across Ireland over 2023 – 2024.
Father McDonnell said, “I am delighted that for this Reek Sunday we will be joined by the successor of Saint Patrick, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, who will join us on our pilgrimage and celebrate Mass with Archbishop Francis Duffy in Westport, and also on the summit of Croagh Patrick.”
Croagh Patrick (2,510ft/765m) is a physically demanding pilgrimage which has been undertaken for over 1500 years. The Reek, as it known locally, dominates the landscape of southwest Mayo both spiritually and physically. The pilgrimage is associated with Saint Patrick who, in 441, spent forty days and nights fasting on the summit, following the example of Christ and Moses. The name ‘Reek Sunday’ comes from Patrick’s ability to Christianise many pagan customs including the festival of Lughnasa, which previously heralded the start of the harvest festival honouring the ancient pagan god Lugh, whose name is encompassed in the Irish language word for August: Lughnasa. This festival’s tradition became absorbed into new Christian beliefs and locally become known as Domhnach na Cruaiche (Reek Sunday). A virtual tour and additional information on Croagh Patrick can be viewed on tuamarchdiocese.org and on westportparish.ie.
Regarding the dedication of this year’s Reek Sunday pilgrimage to vocations to the priesthood, Father McDonnell said, “our Church needs vocations to the priesthood like never before. No doubt it is a challenging time to minister as a priest, but in my role I find that serving the people of God in today’s counter-cultural environment is nothing short of a faith-enriching experience. I love being a priest and I draw spiritual strength from the people I meet every day on the journey of life. For this Reek Sunday, I invite any man who is discerning a vocation to the priesthood to avail of the opportunity to come to Croagh Patrick and pray, climb and reflect with other priests and members of the faithful. To help raise awareness of vocations, a special ‘Year for Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood’ stand will be in place on Reek Sunday morning, at the base of Croagh Patrick, to offer information on the priesthood.”
Father McDonnell continued, “In advance of the pilgrimage, I appeal to any priest in a position to minister the Sacraments over the Reek weekend, to contact me by email as soon as possible on frchaz@gmail.com.”
Father McDonnell also spoke of the importance of conserving the natural environment of Croagh Patrick for current and for future generations. He said, “Croagh Patrick is an iconic feature of the Mayo landscape and is of significant natural, cultural and spiritual importance. In recent years the Croagh Patrick Stakeholders’ Group has achieved monumental success in helping to preserve and safeguard the mountain. However, we cannot do this alone. As the largest annual gathering on the Reek, it is essential that Reek Sunday pilgrims – and indeed all pilgrims – play their responsible part to sustain this holy site for future generations. The Church has actively engaged with other stakeholders to undertake the ‘Sustainable Access and Habitat Restoration Project’ to provide a robust path for access, and to restore the eroded parts of the mountain. In this regard we are committed to minimising the impact of the pilgrimage on the drinking water of the mountain streams, on the local community and on other users of the mountain. To help us to achieve these aims, we ask of each pilgrim to adhere to the following best practice guidance:
- if you are traveling by car, car-pool if you can, park responsibly and follow the instructions of stewards on the day;
- while climbing, stay on the defined path on the mountain (where in place) and do not encroach on the adjoining habitat which may be in the process of restoration;
- be respectful to the mountain streams which provide drinking water to the local community;
- support our ‘Leave No Trace’ principle by not discarding litter on the mountain and by appropriately disposing of any that you might come across; and,
- as dogs are not permitted on the mountain, please do not bring dogs to Croagh Patrick. I ask all dog owners to respect this requirement.”
Reek Sunday, 30 July – Mass on the hour up to 8.00am-2.00pm.
7.30am – 2.00pm Confessions available for pilgrims on the summit of Croagh Patrick
8.00am First hourly Mass on the summit celebrated by Father John Kenny, Parish Priest of Partry
9.00am Mass celebrated by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford & Lismore
10.00am Aifreann Lán Gaeilge ar barr Cruach Phádraig celebrated by Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe
11.00am Mass celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
Faith history
Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick (2,510ft/765m), has been undertaken for over 1500 years. Croagh Patrick dominates the landscape of southwest Mayo both spiritually and physically. The pilgrimage is associated with Saint Patrick who, in 441, spent forty days and nights fasting on the summit, following the example of Christ and Moses. The name ‘Reek Sunday’ comes from Patrick’s ability to Christianise many pagan customs including the festival of Lughnasa, which previously heralded the start of the harvest festival honouring the ancient pagan god Lugh, whose name is encompassed in the Irish language word for August: Lughnasa. This festival’s tradition became absorbed into new Christian beliefs and locally become known as Domhnach na Cruaiche (Reek Sunday). A virtual tour and additional information on Croagh Patrick can be viewed on
and on
- Safety advice for pilgrims
Croagh Patrick is a physically demanding pilgrimage. Intending pilgrims should make themselves aware in advance of health and safety information about the mountain. Pilgrims should also heed the instructions of stewards, the mountain rescue teams, Order of Malta, and Gardaí. While it is a custom for some to make the climb barefoot, pilgrims should come prepared for changeable weather conditions, and are advised to bring suitable warm/waterproof clothing, good footwear, walking stick/staff and water, and to be mindful of the safety of themselves and others. See
and
mayomountainrescue.ie/index.php/advice/safety-and-equipment
Ed: The following poem is by Paddy Guthrie, Westport:
A Native View of the Reek
There’s a magical mystical mountain
On the coast of auld Mayo
A reminder of God’s greatness
To us native folk below
Where pilgrims come from far and near
To climb its hoary head
To the little chapel on the top
Where the Holy Mass is said
Its name it is Croagh Patrick
This hill of which I speak
But to us who live in its shadows
It’s known simply as the Reek
Where long before we heard a Christian bell
To our pagan race a sacred place as well
Where druids danced at Lughnasa ‘tis said
And at dark Samhain built a fire for the dead
Did heroes of the old times climb its back
Or wind their way along its well-worn track?
Did Ferdia, before the fated fight,
Upon its wind-whipped shoulder spend a night?
Or Fionn with his faithful hunting hounds
Chase great stag below this most holiest of grounds?
Until the pious man we’d once enslaved
Returned once more our pagan souls he saved
And on this very mountain made his stand
While he banished all the demons from the land
There on the Judgement Day so the ancient legends say
He’ll lead our souls towards Paradise up its steep and well-trod way
And won’t it be a fine sight as we all bend our backs to climb
All Mayo folk together in harmony divine.
Paddy Guthrie (Shadows of the Eagle, CPR 2003)