Damage on Croagh Patrick due to erosion may leave access severely restricted

It’s Ireland’s holy mountain, but access may soon have to be cut off, or at least severely restricted, due to worsening erosion, writes Donal Hickey. 

Such is the scale of damage to Croagh Patrick — visited by an estimated 100,000 people each year — that some locals in Mayo believe it is irreversible. On a trip to that beautiful area by Clew Bay, a few weeks ago, I had a look and can confirm the many concerns voiced in recent years are not exaggerated.

The path on the mountain is in a dreadful state — like an ugly, grey scar — from over-use and lack of maintenance and management. Scottish mountaineering expert Rob Aitken described it as the “worst-damaged’’ mountain pathway in Ireland or the UK. He’s probably correct.

Not having seen Croagh Patrick in about 25 years, it was obvious it had deteriorated seriously in the intervening period. Locals I spoke with blamed the damage on a huge increase in extreme/ adventure sports and mountain runs, sometimes involving thousands of people. Some people, including Westport priest Fr Tony King, have called for the mountain to be declared off-limits for many activities until a proper conservation plan is implemented. Fr King even suggested the age-old, Reeks Sunday pilgrimage, which attracts around 30,000 over a weekend in July, be suspended for three years.

Path erosion is also a problem on other mountains, such as Carrauntoohil, Co Kerry, Galtymore, Co Tipperary, and Errigal, Co Donegal. Through an initiative called Helping the Hills, Mountaineering Ireland has worked with other organisations to develop a set of principles to guide the management of erosion in upland areas.

The MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Forum was established, in Kerry, two years ago and eight landowners, in the Carrauntoohill area, have received government funding to carry out essential works and help prevent erosion. Funding is running out for the Reeks project, however, and Patricia Deane, of the forum, is hoping more money will be provided for the necessary work.

“This is the first project of its kind in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales where private landowners carry out this type of work. The feedback is very positive and the project is proving successful,’’ she said.

Increased outdoor activities, charity events and recreational tourism are adding to erosion on Carrantuohill and other routes. Extreme weather and more activity in winter months are additional factors.

An average of 500 people go on the MacGillycuddy Reeks each day during peak season. Three infra-red people counters are in place on the main access routes, which give daily breakdowns of numbers.