We left the hotel after breakfast at 9:15 and drove a short distance to St. Joseph's Holy Well. This is a pre-Christian sacred site. St. Patrick and the priests after him connected these wells to Christian traditions.
Another short drive took us to the Rock of Boheh. It has been suggested that the Rock of Boheh, in conjunction with the setting sun on Croagh Patrick was a focal point for dividing the year into three in prehistoric times. The cup and circle marks date from the Neolithic or early Bronze Age. The inscribed cross indicates Christian use and is ascribed to Patrick and the worship of the true sun - the Son of God in the Mass.
A 45 minute drive took us to the trailhead for Croagh Patrick. Just across the street from the trailhead we visited the National Famine Memorial commemorating the famine of 1845-1850.
We then began the 2.5 mile hike to the summit of Croagh Patrick which includes 2,285' feet of elevation gain and a very rocky trail. I use the word "trail" very loosely. It is believed that Patrick gathered the leaders of the local warring clans together at the summit of what today is Croagh Patrick. He instructed them that if they lived in peace that he would eradicate of of the snakes from Ireland which would make Ireland a Garden of Eden.
After about 1,000' of elevation gain on the way up we were completely fogged in. On the summit there is a chapel other small shrines. After a couple hundred feet of elevation loss on the way down it cleared up.
Croagh Patrick
A serious climb, and you look great at the summit! Those are some important locations in Ireland's history... thanks for the background info in addition to the photos. Captions and spot updated. Love you.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoying sharing in your journey! Thank you for this. Love! the smiles in the last pic!
ReplyDeleteWe love you