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festivals · Monday 24 August 2026 · 7:00pm 
Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail Walking Festival 2026
At Brackloon Community Centre & Bohea Stone · Brackloon, Westport, Co. Mayo
At Brackloon Community Centre & Bohea Stone · Brackloon, Westport, Co. Mayo
Twice a year, on the spring and autumn equinoxes of the megalithic calendar, the setting sun appears to roll down the northern shoulder of Croagh Patrick and vanish behind the mountain in a slow, almost theatrical arc. August 24th is one of those dates, and the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail has been bringing people out to watch it from the Bohea Stone for years. This is a genuinely rare combination: a piece of prehistoric art, an astronomical alignment, and one of the west of Ireland’s most recognisable mountains framed at sunset. It suits anyone with an interest in archaeology, walking, or simply being somewhere extraordinary at the right moment.
The evening begins at Brackloon Community Centre, a short drive from Westport town, at 7:00 pm. A local historian gives a talk on the site and its context before leading the group out on a 6 km walk to the Bohea Stone. The stone itself is a low boulder covered in circular engravings - cup-and-ring marks that archaeologists consider among the finest examples of megalithic art in Ireland. As the sun drops, it appears to roll down the northern flank of Croagh Patrick before disappearing behind the summit. The alignment is not accidental; the people who carved those rings several thousand years ago were watching the same thing. Refreshments are included in the cover charge. The walk is not technically demanding, but it is across open ground and the return is in fading light, so sensible footwear is worth putting on. The whole event - talk, walk, and sunset - takes roughly two to three hours.
The August 24 event is part of a wider annual walking festival run by the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail, which follows the 63 km pilgrim route from Balla in east Mayo all the way to Murrisk on the shores of Clew Bay. All proceeds from the festival go directly to charity.
Westport is well connected for a town of its size. By road, the N5 brings you in from Castlebar and the midlands; the N59 comes from Clifden and Connemara. The nearest train station is Westport, on the Dublin Heuston line via Athlone and Ballina (or change at Manulla Junction). Bus Eireann runs services from Galway and Dublin. Brackloon Community Centre is a few kilometres south of the town; the Bohea Stone is a further short walk from there. A car is the most practical option for the evening, and parking is not an issue at that location.
Westport is one of the few planned Georgian towns in Ireland, with tree-lined streets running down to the quays at Clew Bay, and Croagh Patrick visible from almost everywhere you stand. Time it right and you can combine this event with a day on the Clew Bay islands or a walk on the Greenway. There is more to see in Westport and across Co. Mayo.
Heading to Brackloon Community Centre & Bohea Stone in Westport? Mayo has plenty more to see. Read the Westport area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.