Sun blesses pilgrims following in bare footsteps of St Patrick

WALKING barefoot up Croagh Patrick is everything you would expect from a trying yet forgiving God.

It proved particularly testing for one man who was airlifted to hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack, but last night staff at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar described his condition as “stable”.

More than 30,000 people took on the torture yesterday in everything from slippers to wellies, boots and socks.