Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage

On the last weekend of July every year, Croagh
Patrick in County Mayo, Ireland becomes Mecca
as up to 30,000 pilgrims gather to climb the
mountain during the 'Reek Sunday' pilgrimage.

Ireland's national saint, St Patrick's 40 day and
40 night stay on the mountain has traditionally
been viewed as the symbolic beginning of
Catholicism in Ireland.

Regarded as a tough climb, many take to it
barefoot and those who climb it seven years
in a row are assured of a direct path to Heaven.