Annual Croagh Patrick pilgrimage draws 16,000

Mayo, 25 July 1915 - More than 16,000 people climbed Croagh Patrick’s Reek today, the largest crowd to attend the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage for several years.

Twenty special trains had brought pilgrims from all over Ireland to the Reek and from daybreak hundreds – and then thousands – of people has ascended the mountain in an unbroken line. Masses were celebrated from 8am to noon at the three altars in the oratory on the summit.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]