Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick (Irish: Cruach Phádraig, meaning "(Saint) Patrick's Stack"), nicknamed the Reek, is a 764 metres (2,507 ft) mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo in Ireland. It is 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. It is climbed by pilgrims on Reek Sunday every year, which is the last Sunday in July. It forms the southern part of a U-shaped valley created by a glacier flowing into Clew Bay in the last Ice Age. Croagh Patrick is part of a longer east-west ridge; the westernmost peak is called Ben Gorm.

Name

Croagh Patrick comes from the Irish Cruach Phádraig meaning "(Saint) Patrick's stack". It is known locally as "the Reek", a Hiberno-English word for a "rick" or "stack". In pagan times it was known as Cruachán Aigle, being mentioned by that name in sources such as Cath Maige Tuired,Buile Shuibhne,The Metrical Dindshenchas, and the Annals of Ulster entry for the year 1113.Cruachán is simply a diminutive of cruach "stack", but it is not certain what Aigle means. It is either from the Latin loan aquila "eagle" (more usually aicile or acaile) or a person's name. In addition to its literal meaning, cruach in the pagan name may also have some connection with Crom Cruach.

Croagh

Croagh (Irish: Cróch) is a picturesque small village in County Limerick, Ireland. It is located on the road between Rathkeale and Adare which was part of the N21 national primary road before it was bypassed. It is 14 miles from Limerick city. "Croagh" is from the Irish word "cruach," which is a hill or mountain.

The village is in the agricultural area known as the Golden Vale. The village itself is one of the widest in County Limerick, with a park, a monastery, nursing home, music school, restaurant, hostel, garden centre, church, school, shop, 2 pubs, hall, an indoor Gaelic Athletic Association alley and 2 GAA pitches.

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