Minister to open pilgrim path and Erris tourism hub
The annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage on Ireland's holy mountain Croagh Patrick. Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin
A 4km pilgrim path at Croagh Patrick and state-of-the-art tourism hub in Erris will be officially opened by Minister Heather Humphrey’s later today.
The Minster will be in Augleam to open the SOLAS Visitor Centre and announce funding to revitalise towns and villages across rural Ireland.
This new €4m building, supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Pobal, Mayo Co. Council and Fáilte Ireland, is set to highlight the rich history, unique heritage, and captivating language of the Mullet Peninsula.
The Minister later travelled to Croagh Patrick to open the new pilgrim path.
Delivered in collaboration with the ‘Croagh Patrick Stakeholders Group’ this flagship project was hand-built over the course of three years.
The upgraded pilgrim path will provide sustainable access to Croagh Patrick and address the substantial erosion of the mountain.
Thousands of tonnes of rock and soil were removed from the Reek to make it safe and accessible, as well as protecting the mountain.
The path runs from the statue of St Patrick near the base of the mountain to the church at the top of the Reek.
