A Different Type of Croagher!

Three years ago I first scaled the reek with my retired dad and a friend, but that was when I was fresh to the challenge, and so decided to experience it how pilgrims in the past had - barefooted.

I had a great sense of disarmament during that initial climb, with the serene western views of Clare Island reaching out beyond the drumlins of Clew Bay, while the eastern perspective from the croagh-side gave every physical geography student a pictureseque view of ox-bow lakes, a cirque, tarn, and arete.

The pancake bogland made the reek seem all the more awe-inspiring and deceptively high.

This year, taking into consideration I had to work on Tuesday (a job that requires lots of walking and climbing stairs), I decided to keep my two feet in my two boots.

I also hoped God would forgive me if I listened to the hurling quarter finals with Galway vs. Tipperary, and Kilkenny vs. Limerick. Many a pilgrim was happy to stop for a quick match update. A form of respite from their ascension/descension.

One Tyrone-jersey bearing adult and his son were obviously seeking repentance for the referee who had given a brutally inept display during their recent clash with Armagh. Years ago, such abysmal judgement calls by a referee would have been a mortal sin in the eyes of many. But thankfully times have changed, and now such trophy-deciding faults only qualify in the venial category.

I was surprised to see some drinks corporations hadn't sponsored a few bare-footed penitents to paint corporate logos upon their feet. Surely a missed marketing opportunity there. Seen as they've penetrated the football/hurling boots of GAA players it may not be too far-flung an idea for the future.

Carlsberg don't do religious pilgrimages, but if they did..............................

Returning to work on Tuesday morning, I was surprised to hear the food delivery man bring up the subject: 'Were you at Croagher over the weekend'? When a Clare man says such things after the last Sunday of July it's a safe bet he's talking about Croagh Patrick in Mayo and not the Ballybough Croagher.

Christian tradition holds St. Patrick fasted on the summit for forty days and nights in thanksgiving to his God for the conversion of Irish people to Christianity. Love it or despise it, that's their tradition.

Anyhow, the Clare food delivery man continued: 'Did ya see a helicopter on your tracks?' 'I did indeed', I replied. Well, that was me father been airlifted out by the mountain rescue team after he fainted on the way down. Fucking lunatic. 64 years of age, climbed the mounain in his bare feet with a rucksack full of rocks on his back!'

Thankfully, he has recovered and is doing fine.

An enthusiastic/artistic Pole had formed rocks on a neighbouring mountainside into 'Kocham Magde' (I love Magde). Not sure if this was a reference to the biblical Magdalene or his own girlfriend/spouse.

'LATVIA' and 'ESPANA' also decorated the landscape, designed from the abundant scree.

Those close to the summit sought and received the comforting assurances, 'It's just around the corner', or 'it's only another 10 minutes'. An elderly lady catching her breath smiled and replied, 'that depends on how fast your climbing'.

Elaine has captured the essence with her photos, which speak a thousand words each. Yet, such beauty as Shakespeare would say, cannot truly be depicted, 'as words (and photos) cannot yield the matter'.

My advise to peoples of all cultures, faiths (and of no faith of course), and ages - go to Murrisk and experience one of Ireland's most beautiful traditions and environments.

Justice for the Rossport 5