Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage, County Mayo
Killarney, Ireland
About This Activity
Croagh Patrick is Ireland's most sacred mountain — a 764-metre quartzite peak above Clew Bay in County Mayo where St. Patrick is said to have fasted for 40 days in 441 AD. The 7.5-km return ascent takes 3–4 hours and is manageable without specialist equipment, though the summit scree is steep. On Reek Sunday (last Sunday of July) up to 25,000 pilgrims climb barefoot in a tradition stretching over 1,500 years. A small oratory at the summit is used for Mass throughout the summer. Westport, the nearest town (8 km), is accessible from Galway by bus. As part of a west coast driving route from Kerry, Croagh Patrick makes a compelling full-day detour.
Seasonal note: Best May–Sep; Reek Sunday (last Sunday July) is peak pilgrimage; summit path icy Oct–Apr
See This in an Itinerary
This activity appears in 13 of our curated itineraries.
Best 5 Days in Ireland — Temples & Shrines
Dublin → Galway → Killarney
Best 5 Days in Ireland — Pilgrimage
Dublin → Galway → Killarney
Best 7 Days in Ireland — Temples & Shrines
Dublin → Galway → Killarney → Cork → Dingle
Best 7 Days in Ireland — Pilgrimage
Dublin → Galway → Killarney → Cork → Dingle
Best 10 Days in Ireland — Temples & Shrines
Dublin → Galway → Killarney → Cork → Dingle → Belfast
Best 10 Days in Ireland — Pilgrimage
Dublin → Galway → Killarney → Cork → Dingle → Belfast
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