Sunday, August 07, 2011

Mayo Priest Criticises Commericialisation of Croagh Patrick

A County Mayo priest has hit out at what he perceives as the over-commercialisation of Ireland's Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick.

With events such as open air dating Meet on the Reek as well as the Gaelforce West Adventure Race planned for the mountain this year, Fr Frank Fahey, who is the priest in charge of the nearby Ballintubber Abbey, says he does not agree with such a commercial use of the mountain .

While he praised some of the charity event organisers for being well intentioned he said, 
“There are plenty of other higher mountains where many of these challenges and events could be held. Croagh Patrick should not be exploited in this way, the sacred dimension must be prioritised and emphasised.” 

He added, “Croagh Patrick like many other mountains and hills such as Mount Fuji, Ayers Rock, the Hill of Tara, and Devil's Canyon, has been a sacred place for thousands of years.  It's religious and spiritual significance goes back to the time of the Druids and in Celtic times these priests were the only people allowed climb the mountain.”

Speaking on sporting and leisure events planned for the mountain he said, “These different sporting and leisure events are part of the whole secularisation of our society: nothing is set aside anymore as special or sacred. The aboriginal people have tried to stop tourists climbing Ayers Rock which resonates deeply in their cultural and spiritual history.”

Fr Fahey added, “A sacred place has the power to impose its presence and sense of awe on the world. If, on the other hand, we conquer these mountains, they lose their sense of awe and of transcendent power.”  

Fr Fahey also called for “information boards along the pathway explaining the rich Pagan and Christian history and legends associated with the mountain.”