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The Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Donegal and Kerry fans set alarms early to fit in Reek Sunday pilgrimage and All-Ireland final
THE EARLY MASSES on Reek Sunday in Croagh Patrick were full of green and gold flags and jerseys as Donegal and Kerry fans squeezed in both the pilgrimage and the All-Ireland football final. Reek Sunday, also known as Garland Sunday, falls annually on the last Sunday of July but a change in how the GAA operates its county championships is impacting the celebrations for a second year in-a-row. The pilgrimage sees thousands scale Mayo's Croagh Patrick – some barefoot – to celebrate St Patrick. Speaking to The Journal last week, Administrator of Westport parish, Father John Kenny, said some pilgrims would opt to come out early so they could watch the final too. 'The final impacted numbers, but there were a lot of people from Kerry and Donegal there,' said Fr Kenny this morning. He even met a person from Donegal who made an early climb of Croagh Patrick and was then hitting the road to be in Croke Park for the final. 'At the earlier Masses, there was lots of flag waving and lots of Kerry and Donegal jerseys. 'I said to one of them, 'if you've any spare tickets, leave them in after the Mass', but unfortunately no one came forward with tickets.' A particularly busy morning with the All-Ireland final resulted in a quieter than usual afternoon. 'There was a big fall-off during the All-Ireland final and at half time, I met people going up the mountain and listening in on their radios or phones,' said Fr Kenny. Confessions were available from 7.30am and Masses were celebrated hourly in the old church on the top of Croagh Patrick from 8am to 2pm. Fr Kenny said the priests were 'kept very busy with well-attended Masses and confession'. View from inside the old church on top Croagh Patrick yesterday Fr John Kenny Fr John Kenny Earlier this month, he issued a callout for priests who have the capacity to make the journey to join him among other clergymen on Croagh Patrick. Eight priests responded and were all present yesterday, and others turned up on the day. 'Quality, not quantity' Fr Kenny acknowledged that numbers are trending downwards, but remarked that 'we're not about numbers – it's not about quantity, it's about quality'. He added that while many of the people present yesterday were there for religious purposes, people also came to be a 'part of the whole experience and atmosphere'. As well as the hourly Masses, there were two ecumenical services – one at the summit and one at the foot of the mountain. An ecumenical service brings together members of different Christian denominations and Church of Ireland parishes were invited. 'A wonderful feature this year was the ecumenical services,' said Fr Kenny, 'and you could sense a feeling of this being for everybody, not just Catholics.' Advertisement And while Fr Kenny said numbers on Reek Sunday are down, he added that over the course of the year, more pilgrims are coming to climb the mountain 'in their own time and at their own pace'. Meanwhile, Fr Kenny said that pilgrims going barefooted is 'still very much a feature of the pilgrimage, among both old and young'. 'Some people would climb up barefoot and descent with their shoes,' said Fr Kenny. 'Cameras were focused on the bare feet a lot and any press photographers made sure they took pictures of the people with their bare feet, it does stands out from the rest.' As for Fr Kenny, he chooses to keep his shoes on. 'I do barefooted when I go to Lough Derg,' he told The Journal , 'but anywhere else, apart from the beach, I keep my shoes on. 'It's a choice people make, but I wouldn't encourage it. 'While the person themselves might be safe and take it nice and steady, somebody might step on their foot or something like that.' There weren't any serious injuries this year and Fr Kenny said the Order of Malta and Mayo Mountain Rescue Team 'weren't kept awfully busy'. Fr Kenny said this was partly due to reduced numbers, but also a result of works to make the steps safer for people climbing. 'There were call outs, and the helicopter was there, and they had to use the flares because of the cloud coming over the mountain every now and again. 'There were people with sore limbs and ankles but thankfully nothing serious.' Cloud and fog atop Croagh Patrick yesterday Fr Kenny Fr Kenny And despite numbers being down, Fr Kenny feels confident that the long-term future of the Reek Sunday pilgrimage is secure. 'This year, I thought the amount of people using the Pilgrim Passport was encouraging .' It's a Jubilee Year within the Church and there is a 'Pilgrim Passport' that people can get stamped at the three national pilgrimage sites in Croagh Patrick, Lough Derg, and Knock. 'When people come to their third place, they got a medallion to mark this,' said Fr Kenny. He also remarked that there was interest from abroad this year on Reek Sunday. 'There was a journalist doing the pilgrimage who had just come from Lough Derg. 'He was going to call in to Knock on the way to London, so the pilgrimage has an appeal and a reach that you might not expect, not just nationally, but internationally.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
3 days ago
- General
- The Journal
8 priests respond to Reek Sunday callout as some opt for earlier climb due to All-Ireland clash
EIGHT PRIESTS HAVE responded to a callout to help administer sacraments at the top of Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday. Reek Sunday, also known as Garland Sunday, falls annually on the last Sunday of July but a change in how the GAA operates its county championships is impacting the celebrations for a second year in-a-row. There was already a shortage of celebrants for the occasion this Sunday. And now some pilgrims are opting to begin the traditional climb of the Mayo mountain earlier so that they avoid a clash with the All-Ireland Football final between Donegal and Kerry at 3.30pm. The pilgrimage sees thousands scale Mayo's Croagh Patrick – some barefoot – to celebrate St Patrick. Masses are held at the summit and the Eucharist and confessions are ministered by priests each hour from morning until late afternoon. Confessions will be available from 7.30am. Earlier this month, Administrator of Westport parish, Father John Kenny, issued a callout for priests who have the capacity to make the journey to join him among other clergymen on Croagh Patrick on 27 July. An ageing clergy has created difficulty in sourcing enough priests able to climb the mountain to attend to the thousands that turn out for the pilgrimage. Weekends are also priests' busiest times and it is difficult to find the numbers. Pilgrims atop the mountain in 2006. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Speaking to The Journal , Fr Kenny said eight priests have put their names forward in advance, but that others will turn up on the day. 'We have a core group to look after the pilgrimage, thank God.' Masses will be celebrated hourly in the old church on the top of Croagh Patrick from 8am to 2pm. In years gone by, Masses on top of the mountain would have been held every half hour. Fr Kenny said the main reason for cutting back is the lack of priests being able to take part. However, he added that the second reason was feedback from pilgrims that they liked 'quiet time' on the summit of the mountain as well. 'This means that it wouldn't be just Mass after Mass after Mass… that was a feeling I had myself.' However, there will also be an ecumenical service at 10.30am at the summit, as well as one at 2.30pm at the foot of the mountain. An ecumenical service brings together members of different Christian denominations. Church of Ireland parishes have been invited to attend both these services. 'That's kind of a new feature,' said Fr Kenny, 'and hopefully that will be a feature going forward on the occasional half hour.' Advertisement Meanwhile, Fr Kenny noted that the pilgrimage once more clashes with the All-Ireland Football final. 'People set their alarms earlier as a result and take part earlier, that's a feature in recent times,' said Fr Kenny. 'They still want to do the pilgrimage, but do it earlier than they would normally because of what's going on in Croke Park in the afternoon.' And as for Fr Kenny himself, he acknowledged that the 'logistics are difficult'. 'When I wasn't looking after the logistics I used to get more out of it, to be honest. 'While I'm in charge of the logistics, it can be difficult, but it's always great to witness the faith and witness the people turning out.' Fr Kenny also expressed hope that the pilgrimage can continue for the long-term and said he is 'sure the Lord will provide'. 'I can't tell the future but the perhaps we will have to be a Church in a new way and the ordained ministry will still be part of that, but we won't have the numbers that we used to.' Advice to pilgrims Nurse Marie Lyons of the Mayo Mountain Rescue Team has spent the last 20 Reek Sundays working in the medical tent on Croagh Patrick. She said many patients on Reek Sunday present to the medical tent because of a slip and urged people to wear the correct footwear. While she said ankle support is optional, she recommends people check the sole of the shoe. 'A rubber sole on a shoe, or preferably a boot, with a good grip is the most suitable.' And no matter your fitness levels and regardless of the weather, she reminded people to bring water. ' Every year scores of people ask us for water from the medical tent,' said Lyons. 'At the risk of sounding mean, bring your own! At least one litre, two if you sweat a lot.' She also recommended people take salty food to replace electrolytes and sugary food to sustain your energy. Meanwhile, Lyons note that some pilgrims are 'offering up the hardship for a specific purpose or intention'. 'People are often consumed with making it to the summit but then find it difficult to descend on overly fatigued legs. 'If you are really struggling with severe fatigue on the ascent, and your legs feel wobbly and flat, please do not continue. 'Stop, have a snack, enjoy the people and the scenery and descend. The mountain will stay put until your next visit.' She also reminded pilgrims that 'hypothermia is a real problem' and to be prepared for all weather conditions. She advised to bring a small rucksack with an extra couple of layers and a rain jacket. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
06-07-2025
- General
- The Journal
Pilgrimage organisers seek priests willing to climb a mountain to hear confessions
THERE HAS BEEN a callout for priests to help minister sacraments at the top of Croagh Patrick for Reek Sunday – as the Church has been forced to halve the number of its services as a result of a diminished and ageing clergy. Reek Sunday, also known as Garland Sunday, is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of July. The pilgrimage sees thousands scale Mayo's Croagh Patrick – some barefoot – to celebrate St Patrick. Masses are held at the summit and the Eucharist and confessions are ministered by priests each hour from morning until late afternoon. However, an ageing clergy has created difficulty in sourcing enough priests able to climb the mountain to attend to the thousands that turn out for the pilgrimage. Administrator of Westport parish, Father John Kenny, has invited priests who have the capacity to make the journey to join him among other clergymen on Croagh Patrick on 27 June. The number of priests who have attended Reek Sunday has ranged between eight and up to 15 or 20 in recent years, Fr Kenny told The Journal . Masses on the mountain used to be held every half hour as pilgrims reached the summit at their own pace, but a shortage of priests has forced the masses to be halved, and they are now held hourly from 8am to 2pm on the day. Advertisement Fr Kenny said that it is doubtful there will be enough priests available for Reek Sunday again to return to the original schedule. The weekends are priests' busiest times and it is difficult to find the numbers. 'What happens sometimes is some of the priests that aren't able to climb the mountain anymore would cover for somebody who would be able to climb,' Fr Kenny said, 'and we're always happy that happens. So a retired priest might volunteer to cover for another priest, and by that we've given him the freedom to be to be able to go up the mountain.' Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Each year, between 5,000 and 10,000 people will turn out for the day. The crowds depend on the weather and whether there's a clash with an All-Ireland final, he said. Fr Kenny is hoping for a few priests to get in touch with his parish of Westport in the Archdiocese of Tuam if they are available for the day. However, there is a large amount of support for the religious affairs on Croagh Patrick with laypeople and Eucharistic Ministers supporting the clergy. Of the falling number of priests, Fr Kenny said that it is certainly a 'dramatic' change but there is simultaneously a surge in lay activity and involvement – something he says appears to be the imminent future of the Catholic Church in Ireland. The role of a priest seems to be slightly less appealing to younger people, he thinks, as 'we're living in a society for a good few years now where a long term commitment is something hard to give'. 'I suppose a lifelong vocation is maybe not going to be a feature of the future to the extent it was now, or has been in the past.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
