Croagh Patrick - (Saint) "Patrick's stack" in English - is a mountain 764 m (2,507 ft) high in County Mayo, Ireland. According to Wikipedia:
Archaeologists found that there had been a stone chapel or oratory on the summit since the 5th century. There is reference to a "Teampall Phádraig" (Patrick's Temple) from AD 824... A small modern chapel was built on the summit and dedicated on 20 July 1905. On the last Sunday in July, thousands of pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick in honour of Saint Patrick, and masses are held at the summit chapel. Some pilgrims climb the mountain barefoot, as an act of penance. Traditionally, pilgrims would perform 'rounding rituals', in which they pray while walking sunwise around features on the mountain. Among these are a group of three ancient cairns known as Reilig Mhuire (Mary's graveyard), which are likely Bronze Age burial cairns.
We caught glimpses of Croagh Patrick when the entire mountain was visible but weather changed, giving us very different views. The mountain's appearance also changed dramatically depending on the angle or distance from which we viewed it.
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| The tiny little bump at the top of the mountain is the chapel. The only way to reach it is on foot, a hike that takes several hours at a minimum. |
