Posted on 10/11/2015 2:50:02 AM PDT by moose07
Up to 40,000 people climb Croagh Patrick every year - a 760m-high mountain in the far west of Ireland - as part of a pilgrimage to honour the country's patron saint. It's one of Ireland's top tourist destinations and has become popular with runners. But not everyone is happy, including the Catholic Church.
On a clear day you can see Croagh Patrick from miles away, its near perfect conical shape mirrored against the sky. Originally a site for pagan ceremonies, St Patrick is said to have climbed the mountain more than 1,500 years ago, fasting and praying for 40 days and 40 nights.
He'd have had a wonderful view up there. It's not an easy ascent - piles of shale and loose rock make progress difficult. A passing nun, her long skirt billowing like a parachute in the wind, once dressed my arm after a fall.
Break
Liam watches as two Italian women - who look as if they've just come off the catwalk - teeter tentatively along, among the stones in their high heels.
"The tourists have brought money and jobs to the area," says Liam. "But it's all the other stuff I worry about."
St Patrick's holy mountain has become popular as a venue for runners careering up and down in all weathers.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Interesting article. The idea of leaving the “ownership” nebulous so that there’s nobody to sue is very bright.
It gets around a host of problems.
There is a Pub at the start of the trackway: http://www.campbellspub.ie/
:)
Cute place!
> “...760m-high mountain...”
Uh, ... I think they meant ‘hill’.
What? No leprechauns? No crocks of gold?
What blarney.
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