Archbishop Duffy to meet and greet pilgrims at Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday

The 2026 Reek Sunday falls on 26 July, and thousands of pilgrims of all ages are expected to scale Croagh Patrick (2,510ft/765m), Ireland’s Holy Mountain, to pray and participate on the summit in the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession), and of the Eucharist.

This year, there is a special prayer intention for ‘Road Safety’.

Ahead of this annual National Pilgrimage, and reflecting on this year’s theme, Archbishop Duffy said: “‘Safe journey’, ‘Be careful on the road’ and several other words of caution and advice are frequently used when we set out by car. They express a concern and an awareness that danger is but a moment away.

“They express a hope that all will be well, all will be safe, and all road-users respected. Many have their car blessed, carry a religious emblem, bless themselves or say a short prayer as they start out.

“It is a calling on God to be with us, to guard us. It is in the same vein as the prayer of Saint Patrick’s breastplate: ‘Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left …’.

“In other words, there is a consciousness that God is with us, to protect us. Today we honour the composer of that prayer, our national patron, St Patrick.”

“I look forward to meeting and greeting pilgrims at the base of Croagh Patrick as they commence their climb,” Archbishop Duffy concluded.

Reek Sunday Weekend Pilgrimage – schedule

– Garland Friday, 24 July, the local pilgrimage will begin with a 10am Mass on the Summit of Croagh Patrick celebrated by Westport native Father Tod Nolan PP Newport. 7.30pm Mass at Murrisk Community Café – Croagh Patrick car park.

– Reek Saturday, 25 July 8.15am Tochar Phádraigh Pilgrimage will begin at Ballintubber Abbey. For details, contact 094-9030934 or www.ballintubberabbey.ie.

At 6.30pm a Vigil Mass will be celebrated in Saint Mary’s Church Westport by Archbishop Francis Duffy Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop of Killala.

– Reek Sunday 26 July Masses will be celebrated hourly on the summit from 8am – 2pm.

Confessions will take place from 7.30am–2pm

Notes

Croagh Patrick is a physically demanding pilgrimage. Intending pilgrims should make themselves aware in advance of health and safety information about the mountain. Pilgrims should also heed the instructions of stewards, the mountain rescue teams, Order of Malta, and gardaí.

While it is a custom for some to make the climb barefoot, pilgrims should come prepared for changeable weather conditions, and are advised to bring suitable warm-waterproof clothing, good footwear, walking stick/staff and water, and to be mindful of the safety of themselves and others. see mountaineering.ie and mayomountainrescue.ie.

To sustain the tradition of the national Reek Sunday Pilgrimage on Croagh Patrick, and to protect the mountain, the Church has actively engaged with other stakeholders to undertake sustainable access and habitat restoration.

This project has provided a robust path for access – The Pilgrims Path- as well as restoring eroded parts of the previous path on the mountain. As part of the church’s support for the project, there is a commitment to minimise the environmental impact of the Pilgrimage on Croagh Patrick.

To achieve this goal, pilgrim climbers are respectfully asked to comply with the following guidelines:

– If travelling by car, please park responsibly and follow the instructions of stewards on the day.

– Stay on the defined path on the mountain and do not encroach on the surrounding area.

– The mountain streams provide drinking water for the local community. Be respectful of that while on the mountain.

– We strongly endorse the Leave no Trace Principle. Therefore, please do not discard any litter on the mountain and to bring all waste home.

– Dogs are not allowed on the mountain. Please respect that requirement. The mountain is part of a shared working farm.

Reek Sunday is on the 26 July this year. The Annual Pilgrimage takes place on the weekend of 24-26 July. On this weekend we also celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Sunday 26 July, Masses hourly on the summit from 8am–2pm. Confessions 7.30am – 2pm.

Faith History

The Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick has been undertaken for 1500 years, and this iconic physical feature on the south west County Mayo landscape is of significant natural, cultural and spiritual importance.

The Pilgrimage is associated with Saint Patrick who, in 441 AD, spent 40 and days and nights fasting on the summit, following the example of Christ and Moses.

The name Reek Sunday comes from Patrick’s ability to Christianise many pagan customs including the festival of Lughnasa, which previously heralded the start of the Harvest festival honouring the ancient pagan god Lugh, whose name encompassed in the Irish language word for August: Lughnasa. This festival tradition became absorbed into new Christian beliefs and locally become knowing as Domnach na Cruaiche (Reek Sunday).

A virtual tour and additional information on Croagh Patrick can be viewed on tuamarchdiocese.org and westportparish.ie, Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre, Murrisk, and Murrisk Café.

For more information visit Westportparish.ie.