THE NUMBER of accidents involving climbers at Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo has prompted calls from a rescue team for safety work to be carried out at the mountain.
Mayo Mountain Rescue Team, which is supported by Mayo Civil Defence, the Order of Malta, other rescue units and the Air Corps, is getting ready to assist in this year’s Reek pilgrimage, which will take place on Sunday week, July 25th.
The rescue team, which responds to about 50 calls on the 2,510ft mountain every year, has identified “an accident blackspot” on the final ascent to the summit.
Erosion caused by a significant increase in the number of climbers has created an area on the pilgrim path known to rescuers as “the bad bend”.
In a statement yesterday, Colm Byrne of Mayo Mountain Rescue said most of the accidents occur along this stretch of mountain.
Mr Byrne estimated that at least three-quarters of these injuries could be avoided if some safety maintenance was carried out.
He continued: “This can, of course, be done in an environmentally friendly way. There is no shortage of examples of where this type of work has been carried out tastefully in the mountains of Scotland, Wales and England.
“Efforts to raise this issue in the past have been frustrated by confusion over who would be responsible for carrying out this work. People are being very seriously injured on this mountain and it is past time for the relevant parties to sort out this confusion.
“Mayo Mountain Rescue would be more than happy to advise on what needs to be done.”
The rescue unit yesterday released recommendations about the work that needs to be done in advance of the annual pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick next week, which is expected to attract 20,000 – 30,000 pilgrims.
The team says injuries on Croagh Patrick can also be minimised by walkers following some simple rules.
These include bringing clothing suitable for winter conditions; wearing proper footwear and bringing adequate food and drink.
Sticks and walking poles can be very useful and extra care should be taken on the way down as most accidents happen when fatigue sets in, the team added.
Parents and guardians should think seriously about bringing their child or children all the way to the top.
Mr Byrne stated: “It is very unsafe to carry children down the summit cone, especially on your shoulders. It will take all your efforts to prevent yourself from falling.”