Croagh Patrick pilgrimage set to continue despite dangers

The madcap annual clamber up the sides of a fast-eroding mountain, which to outsiders must seem slightly bonkers, claimed its usual list of casualties, from heart attacks to head injuries, writes Catherine Shanahan. 

All in the name of tradition or religion or whatever it is that draws pilgrims in droves to climb Croagh Patrick.

Among them were one man and his dog, 77-year-old John Finneran and sheepdog Daisy, on their 61st and eighth climbs respectively, anxious to get the prayers in before John’s native Roscommon took on Mayo in the All-Ireland senior football quarter final.