Croagh Patrick Video
A Step Back in Time
Westport, County Mayo, Ireland
LocationCroagh Patrick, known locally as the Reek, is located 5 miles from Westport, County Mayo in the West of Ireland. HistoryCroagh Patrick has been a site of worship and wonderment for over 2000 years. It ranks in importance with the other great pilgrimage mountains of the world, Mount Fugi and Mount Olympus. Its summit was sacred to the Celts, the first people to inhabit Ireland. This is why St Patrick choose it to climb where he fasted for 40 days and nights on its 2510 ft (765m) summit. The custom has been continued by generations of Irish people.
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It is estimated that 250,000 people between tourists and pilgrims, visit the mountain each year. The annual pilgrimage takes place on the last Sunday of July when 30,000 pilgrime climb, some in their bare feet. VideoThis video, filmed on Garland Friday, Reek Sunday, and 15th August captures the spirit of the annual pilgrimage from the pre-Christian era to the last Pilgrimage of the 2nd millennium. The video takes you from Ballintubber Abbey via the Tochair Padraig (St Patrick's Causeway) to Aughagower, and on to Murrisk at the foot of Croagh Patrick, on Reek Sunday climbing with pilgrims. It captures the atmosphere of the pilgrimage including interviews with pilgrims and scenic shots of the path and surrounding area. It also explains recent Archaeological discoveries made on the summit. Mass is celebrated by the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, on the summit. The video includes an interview with Chris Doris, an artist who painted during 40 days and nights spent on the summit. |
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A unique feature of the video is an old cine film of the pilgrimage filmed in the early 1950's showing Fr Angelus, a legendary figure on Croagh Patrick greeting pilgrims at the foot of the Reek.
It also shows Westport on Reek Sunday 1954.
The video concludes with the ceremony of light held at the foot of the Reek at dusk on 31st December 1999, and includes the last sunset of the 2nd millennium, and the first sunrise of the 3rd millennium.
