Woman dies on pilgrimage

A South African woman died while taking part in a pilgrimage of Croagh Patrick, Gardaí said.

The 34-year-old was walking up the 765-metre mountain when she died suddenly shortly after 2pm today.

Other walkers went to her assistance but she died at the scene.

The woman, whose identity was not released, was believed to have been living and working in the west of Ireland for a number of years.

She was one of around 20,000 pilgrims who took part in the annual hike up Ireland’s holy mountain.

Many of them walked in bare feet.

Before starting the hike they were told that the challenge ahead of them symbolised the need to regenerate the Catholic Church.

In his homily Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary urged walkers to look down from the Co Mayo mountain and see the task facing them.

Archbishop Neary told the pilgrims that the climb represented the challenge to make the Irish Church a more vibrant one.

He said: “The exciting challenge for all of us is to strengthen, develop and renew our church in a changed and changing Ireland, especially at parish level.”

“May we look down from this sacred mountain and see with clearer vision the exciting task and challenge ahead.”

In keeping with tradition many pilgrims begin their ascent after midnight, having fasted the previous evening.

The summit is the holy ground on which St Patrick rested, fasted and reflected during 44 days of lent in 441 AD.

According to legend it is also where the saint banished all the snakes from Ireland.

It has been a place of pilgrimage ever since.