Reek Sunday - Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage 2026

Every year on the last Sunday in July, somewhere between 20,000 and 25,000 people make their way to the base of Croagh Patrick and begin the slow, steady climb up Ireland’s holiest mountain. Reek Sunday is not a festival in the usual sense - there are no stages or wristbands. It is a pilgrimage that has been made, in some form, since the Middle Ages, and the collective effort of thousands of people moving up a rough quartzite cone above Clew Bay is an experience unlike anything else on the Irish calendar. Families, solo walkers, elderly parishioners, and first-timers all share the same path. If you have any interest in Irish spiritual life, Irish history, or simply a mountain climb with genuine atmosphere, this is worth making the journey for.

What to expect

The path begins at the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre in Murrisk and rises 764 metres over roughly 7.5km return. The surface is loose shingle and sharp stone - not a gentle hill walk. Most people allow three to four hours for the round trip, though crowds on Reek Sunday slow progress on the upper section. The summit holds a small oratory built in 1905, and throughout the day Masses are celebrated there and confessions heard. The traditional pilgrimage rituals - known as the stations - involve praying while walking sunwise around features on the mountain: seven times around Leacht Benáin (Benan’s grave), fifteen times around the summit perimeter, seven times around Leaba Phádraig (Patrick’s bed), and seven times around Reilig Mhuire, three ancient burial cairns on the upper slope. A number of pilgrims still make the climb barefoot as an act of penance, though this is less common now than it once was. The tradition itself commemorates Saint Patrick’s 40-day fast on the mountain in 441 AD. The descent is harder on the legs than the ascent - take your time on the loose stone coming down.

Getting there

Murrisk is about 9.5km west of Westport on the Louisburgh Road (R335). By car, follow the signs from Westport town centre - it is a straightforward drive. Parking at the Teach na Miasa visitor centre is pay-and-display at around €2.50 for four hours, with a capacity of approximately 200 cars; on Reek Sunday the adjacent fields open as overflow and it fills quickly, so aim to arrive before 9am. Bus Éireann route 450 runs from Mill Street in Westport to the visitor centre entrance roughly six times a day, taking about 20 minutes - a sensible option given the parking pressure. Taxis from Westport cost around €15 to €20 each way.

While you’re in Murrisk

The village sits right on the shore of Clew Bay with views out to the drumlin islands, and there are two pubs - one at each end of the village - both of which serve food. The visitor centre has a coffee shop and hot showers, which are appreciated after the descent. There is more to see in Murrisk and across Co. Mayo.

Good to know

• Date: Sunday 26 July 2026
• Time: Pilgrimage runs throughout the day; Masses celebrated on the summit from early morning
• Price: Free
• What to bring: Sturdy footwear, waterproof layers, and water - weather on the summit changes fast and the path is exposed
• Visitor centre: Parking, café, and showers at the base; check Croagh Patrick’s visitor page for updates closer to the date