Western Alzheimers - Peak of the Reek Community Climb

What to Expect

Western Alzheimers invites local families, individuals and groups to climb Croagh Patrick on Saturday 12 September 2026 for its annual “Peak of the Reek” Community Climb. Unlike the religious Reek Sunday pilgrimage earlier in the summer, this is a community fundraising event, open to climbers of all backgrounds and abilities, with all funds raised going toward hands-on care for local families living with dementia in the west of Ireland. Participants are encouraged to walk in memory of, or in support of, a loved one affected by dementia, and the climb has become a fixture in the autumn calendar for both Ballintubber and Westport parishes, which promote it directly to parishioners in their weekly newsletters. As with any climb of Croagh Patrick, sturdy footwear and warm, waterproof clothing are essential given the mountain’s exposed terrain.

Western Alzheimers is a west of Ireland charity providing day care, home care and family support to people living with dementia and their carers, and community climbs like this one form a significant part of its annual fundraising alongside grants and public donations. Holding the climb in September, well after Reek Sunday’s much larger religious pilgrimage at the end of July, gives participants a quieter mountain and a steadier pace, and the event is promoted jointly through parish newsletters in both the Ballintubber and Westport areas so that word reaches families connected to the charity across south Mayo.

Good to Know

• Date: Saturday 12 September 2026
• Venue: Croagh Patrick, Murrisk, Co. Mayo (climb starts from the visitor car park at the base)
• Price: Free to take part; participants are encouraged to fundraise or donate to Western Alzheimers
• Register at westernalzheimers.ie or by phoning 094 936 4900
• All funds support local dementia care services in the west of Ireland
• Suitable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing recommended; the summit path is steep and rocky

Getting There

Croagh Patrick rises above Clew Bay near Murrisk, about 8km west of Westport on the R335 coast road. The main visitor car park and Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre, with toilets and a cafe, sit at the base of the mountain. Westport, the nearest town, is served by Bus Eireann and Irish Rail services from Dublin and Athlone.