Historical Interest

The area around Croagh Patrick is rich in archaeological remains which provide an interesting insight into life in times past. Findings date back to 200 B.C. - view the Historical Timeline at Croagh Patrick.

It was on the summit of the mountain that Saint Patrick fasted for forty days in 441 AD and the custom has been faithfully handed down from generation to generation.

An excavation carried out in 1994 discovered evidence of Christian activity but also showed that Croagh Patrick was a place of tremendous importance in the pre-Christian Era as indicated by the discovery of a Celtic hillfort encircling the summit of the mountain.

The exciting discovery of a dry stone oratory pushes back further in time our knowledge of pilgrimage architecture on the summit. It has been radio carbon dated to between 430 and 890 A.D. and is one of the oldest stone churches in Ireland.