Croagh Patrick, Sacred mountain in County Mayo, Ireland.
Croagh Patrick is a quartzite mountain in County Mayo that rises 764 meters above sea level in a pyramid shape overlooking Clew Bay. The summit holds a small white chapel visible from the coast on clear days.
Saint Patrick fasted on the summit for forty days in the year 441, establishing a Christian tradition that continues today. A stone chapel was built in the 5th century and has been rebuilt several times over the following centuries.
On the last Sunday of July, thousands of pilgrims walk to the summit, many choosing to climb barefoot over sharp stones and loose scree. A small chapel at the top holds Mass on that day, with people forming long queues outside as they wait their turn.
The climb takes between two and three hours depending on pace and weather conditions, with the upper section crossing loose scree. The visitor center in Murrisk at the foot of the mountain offers information, toilets, and parking.
A gold seam was found inside the mountain during the 1980s but remains unmined because local people opposed any extraction work. The seam lies beneath the surface and stays untouched while pilgrims continue to visit the summit.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
