Garland Sunday
Encyclopedia
Reek Sunday is the annual national pilgrimage
of Ireland
. On the last Sunday of the month of July, pilgrims climb Ireland's holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick
(Cruach Phádraig) in County Mayo
, traditionally in their bare feet. The pilgrimage has taken place annually for around 1,500 years. It is held in honour of Saint Patrick
who, according to tradition, spent forty days fasting on the mountain in 441, following Jesus
and Moses
. In reality, the modern pilgrimage is a long-Christianised variation of a ritual that dates back to pre-Christian, pagan Celtic Ireland, celebrating the Festival of Lughnasadh
. Pilgrims come from as far as Australia
, Europe
the United Kingdom
and United States
to complete the climb. Scientific analysis of the climbers first occurred in 2006 and Mass from the summit was broadcast worldwide via RTÉ
for the first time in 2008.
Approximately 20,000–30,000 pilgrims participate on the day, compared to an annual climbing total of more than 100,000. The Archbishop of Tuam
leads the climb each year. 150 personnel from eleven mountain rescue teams from across Ireland, including the local Mayo Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) for whom it is the busiest day of the year, as well as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Civil Defence Ireland
and members of Garda Síochána
are involved in the climb. Injuries ranging from cuts and broken bones to hypothermia
and full cardiac arrest
have occurred in the past.
of Tuam spoke on the mountain of the improving quality of life which Ireland was experiencing in the late 1990s.
Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam spoke of the fear created by banking and commerce as well as by the Church and state at a meeting with pilgrims in Westport
prior to the 2002 climb. Pilgrims flocked from areas such as Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and United States to climb Croagh Patrick in 2002. Rain was said to have led to difficult climbing conditions.
Around 20,000 people took part in 2006 during particularly bad weather of wind and rain. Archbishops Seán Brady
and Michael Neary said Mass on top, with Neary appealing for kindness and goodwill to be shown to immigrant families. Twenty-three people were airlifted or stretchered off Croagh Patrick with illnesses and injuries; two of these were hospitalised. The 2006 climb saw the first scientific analysis of pilgrims. 11,000 of them were surveyed with two thirds of the climbers found to be men, one third of the climbers found to be women, 5% of pilgrims coming from outside Ireland and 2% climbing in their bare feet.
Over 30,000 pilgrims climbed Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday in 2007. There were some minor foot injuries, whilst one man underwent a suspected cardiac arrest on the mountain.
Over 25,000 pilgrims took part in 2008, the largest total in modern times. A live worldwide broadcast of Mass by RTÉ
from the summit took place for the first time ever, with Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam again the celebrant. Neary spoke of consumer values that he felt were seducing society. Over 20 priests were involved in the 2008 event. Injuries were very few.
Only 18,000 pilgrims climbed the mountain in 2009; more than 20,000 had been expected beforehand and the 18,000 figure was down on the previous year. Weather conditions were particularly bad with many choosing to climb the mountain the previous day. Between five and six children contracted hypothermia on Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday in 2009. Some participants sustained minor cuts, others complained of coronary issues, whilst one woman was airlifted off the mountain after breaking her ankle the day before and a man was airlifted to hospital after undergoing a suspected cardiac arrest on the mountain. Prior to the climb, Mayo Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) advised pilgrims to carry some sort of footwear but not flip-flops, sandal
s, stiletto
s or Wellingtons; it was the first time they had ever issued such advice. Pilgrims were also told to use a stick for walking, wear multiple layers of clothing and to scale the mountain at a slow pace. Archbishop Michael Neary said before the 2009 climb that people were “searching desperately” for hope in the “menacing desert” of the recession
. In his homily on the mountain, Neary talked of the effects the recession had on family life.
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. On the last Sunday of the month of July, pilgrims climb Ireland's holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick , nicknamed the Reek, is a tall mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. It is from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. On "Reek Sunday", the last...
(Cruach Phádraig) in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, traditionally in their bare feet. The pilgrimage has taken place annually for around 1,500 years. It is held in honour of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
who, according to tradition, spent forty days fasting on the mountain in 441, following Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
. In reality, the modern pilgrimage is a long-Christianised variation of a ritual that dates back to pre-Christian, pagan Celtic Ireland, celebrating the Festival of Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh is a traditional Gaelic holiday celebrated on 1 August. It is in origin a harvest festival, corresponding to the Welsh Calan Awst and the English Lammas.-Name:...
. Pilgrims come from as far as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to complete the climb. Scientific analysis of the climbers first occurred in 2006 and Mass from the summit was broadcast worldwide via RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
for the first time in 2008.
Approximately 20,000–30,000 pilgrims participate on the day, compared to an annual climbing total of more than 100,000. The Archbishop of Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
leads the climb each year. 150 personnel from eleven mountain rescue teams from across Ireland, including the local Mayo Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) for whom it is the busiest day of the year, as well as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Civil Defence Ireland
Civil Defence Ireland
Civil Defence Ireland is the national civil defence organisation of the Republic of Ireland. It is operated at local authority level in conjunction with the Department of Defence....
and members of Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
are involved in the climb. Injuries ranging from cuts and broken bones to hypothermia
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
and full cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
have occurred in the past.
Recent years
25,000 pilgrims took part in the climb in 1999 in ideal conditions. Archbishop Michael NearyMichael Neary (Archbishop)
Michael Neary is an Irish clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Archbishop of Tuam.-Early life:Michael Neary was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, and received his early education at St. Patrick's National School, Castlebar and St. Jarlath's College, Tuam. He studied at St...
of Tuam spoke on the mountain of the improving quality of life which Ireland was experiencing in the late 1990s.
Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam spoke of the fear created by banking and commerce as well as by the Church and state at a meeting with pilgrims in Westport
Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean....
prior to the 2002 climb. Pilgrims flocked from areas such as Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and United States to climb Croagh Patrick in 2002. Rain was said to have led to difficult climbing conditions.
Around 20,000 people took part in 2006 during particularly bad weather of wind and rain. Archbishops Seán Brady
Seán Brady
Seán Baptist Brady is an Irish cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the current Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2007.-Early life and education:...
and Michael Neary said Mass on top, with Neary appealing for kindness and goodwill to be shown to immigrant families. Twenty-three people were airlifted or stretchered off Croagh Patrick with illnesses and injuries; two of these were hospitalised. The 2006 climb saw the first scientific analysis of pilgrims. 11,000 of them were surveyed with two thirds of the climbers found to be men, one third of the climbers found to be women, 5% of pilgrims coming from outside Ireland and 2% climbing in their bare feet.
Over 30,000 pilgrims climbed Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday in 2007. There were some minor foot injuries, whilst one man underwent a suspected cardiac arrest on the mountain.
Over 25,000 pilgrims took part in 2008, the largest total in modern times. A live worldwide broadcast of Mass by RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
from the summit took place for the first time ever, with Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam again the celebrant. Neary spoke of consumer values that he felt were seducing society. Over 20 priests were involved in the 2008 event. Injuries were very few.
Only 18,000 pilgrims climbed the mountain in 2009; more than 20,000 had been expected beforehand and the 18,000 figure was down on the previous year. Weather conditions were particularly bad with many choosing to climb the mountain the previous day. Between five and six children contracted hypothermia on Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday in 2009. Some participants sustained minor cuts, others complained of coronary issues, whilst one woman was airlifted off the mountain after breaking her ankle the day before and a man was airlifted to hospital after undergoing a suspected cardiac arrest on the mountain. Prior to the climb, Mayo Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) advised pilgrims to carry some sort of footwear but not flip-flops, sandal
Sandal (footwear)
Sandals are an open type of outdoor footwear, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps passing over the instep and, sometimes, around the ankle...
s, stiletto
Stiletto
A stiletto is a knife or dagger with a long slender blade and needle-like point, intended primarily as a stabbing weapon. The stiletto blade's narrow cross-section and acuminated tip reduces friction upon entry, allowing the blade to penetrate deeply...
s or Wellingtons; it was the first time they had ever issued such advice. Pilgrims were also told to use a stick for walking, wear multiple layers of clothing and to scale the mountain at a slow pace. Archbishop Michael Neary said before the 2009 climb that people were “searching desperately” for hope in the “menacing desert” of the recession
2008–2009 Irish financial crisis
The 2008–2011 Irish financial crisis, which had stemmed from the financial crisis of 2008, is a major political and economic crisis in Ireland that is partly responsible for the country falling into recession for the first time since the 1980s...
. In his homily on the mountain, Neary talked of the effects the recession had on family life.
External links
- Mass from the Reek as broadcast on RTÉ in 2008