Croagh Patrick - On 'Reek Sunday- at night

irish147

Hi
Who is going to walk Croagh Patrick this weekend at night?

Im ready, and I nhave to buy a good flash light now

Hope to see the sunrise on Reek Sunday

Mike

nuac

Night time was the traditional pilgrimage time from time immemorial,

About 1975 there was a meeting of interested parties including Gardaí, clergy, local people, Knights of Malta etc ( Mountain Rescue were not around at the time )

It was agreed to change to day time pilgrimage times to reduce accidents and local drunkeness.

Those days pubs in area stayed open all night, including all the pubs in Westport stayed u
open all night on Reek Saturday night. "to refresh the pilgrims". It was the weekend for exiles to come home, and many who spent the night happily having re-unions never intended to or got to the Reek.

Many of those who went up on the Reek in darkness after that preparation were a danger to others and to themselves. People driving home on Sunday morning after being on the Reek all night were not fully alert.


Descending pilgrims used to tell those climbing " you are nearly there, just another few steps". That gave people heart to keep going, even tho they were hardly past t he statue.

I remember being in Mulranny during one Reek Sunday Night, and watching a stream of light ascending the Reek. There are some photographs showing this.

If you are going up there are night, be careful. It is an 800 metre mountain, with some tricky parts underfoot, added to greatly if it rains.



Basicailly the change was agreed for safety reasons, and the changes in Mass times from starting about midnight to early the followng morning established the change.

Paul Tergat

Campbells must make a killing

nuac

Yes Campbells doing very well. Not the same old world charm as in Owen's time, who concentrated on the quality of his pint. His signature dish was sliced ham, or more sliced ham.

Public area now expanded into the former living accommodation. Very nic ely done. Congrats to architect/designer.

Good collection of old photographs. Now full range of food.

In older days when people believed in indulgences there was a theory that you could have claimed to have started the pilgrimage and clocked up some indulgences if you walked from the front door in Owen's to the back of the house

Paul Tergat

nuac wrote: »

Yes Campbells doing very well. Not the same old world charm as in Owen's time, who concentrated on the quality of his pint. His signature dish was sliced ham, or more sliced ham.

Public area now expanded into the former living accommodation. Very nic ely done. Congrats to architect/designer.

Good collection of old photographs. Now full range of food.

In older days when people believed in indulgences there was a theory that you could have claimed to have started the pilgrimage and clocked up some indulgences if you walked from the front door in Owen's to the back of the house

I like the dining room area but the little connecting bit is not nice at all. its tiny, not enough rooms for those little pews they put in (had a pint in there on Monday and wasn't as good as it used to be!)