A stroll up Croagh Patrick (Part 2)

The hardest part is the last 400 or so metres which is very steep and very rocky.

Of course, if you can hitch a ride, it's a little easier...

Facilities were basic (and yes, there was a queue for the Ladies).....

but at least, it was free. On the other hand, the shop on top of the mountain was charging £2 (2.54 euro) for a cup of tea, and doing a roaring trade.

......

Once you got to the top, and after the alfresco brunch, it's was time for a bit of religion.

There are 'stations' along the route and at the top where people stop to pray - as you can, there's a bit of work involved....

...and Mass is celebrated throughout the day.

In all, it takes 2-3 hours to walk up, and at most 2 hours to walk down again. During the middle of the day, the number of climbers means that everyone has to go at the same speed since the path is quite narrow near the summit. It was cloudy when I began walking - in fact, it rained solidly on the early pilgrims who climbed the mountain in near-darkness to be at the summit for 6am Mass. By the time I got to the top - the sun was shining and the view across Clew Bay was fantastic...

In fact, the weather was so good, I got severe sunburn (never let Irish people out into the sun...), because I forgot to bring sunblock. Some people were taking no chances....

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