Croagh Patrick Men's Climb of Reparation and Conference

What to Expect

A men’s climb of reparation takes place on Croagh Patrick over the weekend of Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August 2026, with an accompanying conference. Registration opens at 10am on the Saturday at the car park at the base of the mountain in Murrisk, which is the same starting point used by pilgrims on Reek Sunday. The climb is a devotional one rather than a hillwalking outing, undertaken as an act of reparation, and the conference element gives the weekend a programme of talks alongside the ascent itself.

Croagh Patrick rises to 764 metres above Clew Bay and the pilgrim path from Murrisk is steep, loose underfoot on the upper cone, and fully exposed to Atlantic weather. Most people take between three and four hours for the round trip, and the summit oratory is the traditional destination. Anyone taking part should treat it as a serious mountain day: proper boots, layers, waterproofs, food and water. Weather on the Reek changes quickly, and cloud can sit on the summit even when Murrisk is clear. Details of the weekend were circulated through Westport Parish, which is the parish the mountain sits within.

Good to Know

• Dates: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August 2026
• Registration: from 10am on Saturday 22 August at the car park at the base of the mountain
• Meeting point: Croagh Patrick base car park, Murrisk, on the R335 west of Westport
• The parish notice does not publish a set charge, so check with the organisers when registering
• Open to men taking part in the climb of reparation and the conference sessions
• Bring hiking boots, waterproofs, warm layers, food and water. There is no shelter on the mountain
• Toilets, parking and a visitor centre are at the Murrisk trailhead

Getting There

Murrisk is on the R335 coast road roughly 8km west of Westport, on the way to Louisburgh, with a large pay car park at the foot of the mountain that fills early on pilgrimage weekends. Westport is the nearest town for accommodation, food and public transport, with Irish Rail services from Dublin Heuston and Bus Eireann connections from Galway and Castlebar. Local bus services run along the Westport to Louisburgh road past Murrisk.