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American tourist collapses and dies on Croagh Patrick pilgrimage

Unidentified man in his 40s died on ascent of County Mayo mountain

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 7:42 AM

Updated Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 1:08 PM

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Pilgrims climbing Croagh Patrick, Mayo

Photo by Google Images

An American citizen has collapsed and died during a pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick in County Mayo.

Police have yet to reveal the identity of the man in his 40s who died as he began climbing the mountain.

Reports say the man became ill at the first statue on the pilgrim mountain as he started his ascent on Tuesday.

The man was with his wife and a number of visitors from the Mid West region when he collapsed.

The Irish Times reports that first aid was administered to the victim but he failed to respond to efforts to resuscitate him.

A local priest administered the Last Rites before the remains were brought by ambulance to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar for a post-mortem.

Nster.com

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IrelandNorth | Aug 31, 2012, 06:49 AM EDT

Pilgrimages are not peculiar to any one religious tradition - ya know! Jews ascend to Mt Sinai & Christians to Mt Tabor - both in Palesrael! Tibetan Buddhists ascend to Mt Kalish in Chibet! Irish-Americans and others ascend to Croagh Patrick, in Co Mayo, (Connacht/western Ireland)! Secularist and eclectic/integrative spirituality-ists do the 800km Camino de Santiago/Way of St James (see Emilio Esteves' "The Way" film, staring his father Martin Sheen-Estevez!) Medieval Irish pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in Spain used embark from quays close to St James' St, hence James's Gate (from St James/Santiago).

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Towngate | Aug 30, 2012, 05:01 PM EDT

ProudCanadan:I take your point exactly, but perhaps she was 'the exception that proves the Rule'. ~ ~ ~ This chap who snuffed it on 'Croak Patrick' might just have run out of road and could easily have slumped into his Baked Alaska after his dinner! "Nobody knows the number of his hours!" So take care, Sláinte.

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ciaradexy | Aug 30, 2012, 04:59 PM EDT

Not everyone who climbs Croagh Patrick is a pilgrim.

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Mousemess | Aug 30, 2012, 12:42 PM EDT

Croagh Patrick = Cruach Phadraig Co Mayo - Conndae Mhuigh Eo Castlebar = Caislean an Bharraigh

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Mousemess | Aug 30, 2012, 12:28 PM EDT

Is an-bhronach an sceal e sin.

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ProudCanadian | Aug 30, 2012, 12:07 PM EDT

Towngate you are correct it is a spiritual thing that has thousands of people every year climbing Croagh Patrick. The problem I have with some Everest climbers and I'll use a Canadian climber in fact just this year, a women climbed it and died and her family wanted Canadian tax payer money to get her body down. I don't know if that has happened before or if it is just another crazy Canuck story and also what I was saying is whether you are climbing a hill or a mountain you have to prepare yourself. This poor fellow was obvisouly not prepared. It is a very tough climb but if you are in shape it makes it easier.

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Towngate | Aug 30, 2012, 07:59 AM EDT

Seriously,though: I understand there is an element of self-flagellation in climbing Croagh Patrick as an offering to God and an affirmation of Faith. It is to be expected that there might be some casualties. Proud Canadans will know Everest climbers are self-supporting and don't make unreasonable demands on the local Medical and Rescue Services, and usually manage to leave 'God' out of it.Anyway they have their pick of the magnificent Rockies to climb up on their knees, but they wisely choose not to. Good to know there is at least one 'ProudCanadan'!

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ProudCanadian | Aug 29, 2012, 11:02 PM EDT

Just the answer I expected from an idiot. Great come back moron.

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Murph46 | Aug 29, 2012, 10:45 PM EDT

Pound salt Dumb Canuck

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sirpeter | Aug 29, 2012, 10:39 PM EDT

That's what happens when you don't have a McDonnell's every hundred feet up to provide a natural surrounding and a place of sustenance for our American tourists.We don't even have wheelchair access up to the church.The Irish tourist board are not catering for our American tourists.I bet Creakygate could do it no bother with his walking frame and one hand over his good eye.Isn't that right Creaky?You been in the Dublin mountain rescue team and all that like.

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Springfield9 | Aug 29, 2012, 04:51 PM EDT

Let's assume he didn't need the entire climb to throw open heaven's gates.

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ProudCanadian | Aug 29, 2012, 04:50 PM EDT

I don't think necessarily that the climb killed him. I think that he must have had heart problems or something like that because like Searlit says the climb to the statue isn't real difficult. Towngate there have been millions of people climb the mountain, in fact every July 31st there is a pilgrimage to the top to go to the church that is on the top, so that is why they do it. The real fools are the ones that climb Everest, that is crazy and should be stopped.

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Searlit | Aug 29, 2012, 03:10 PM EDT

Just an aside, the climb isn't difficult up to the statue, and there is a nice view from there.

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Towngate | Aug 29, 2012, 02:51 PM EDT

Is there no sensible organisation that can stop these prats making fools of themselves and endangering their own lives - for nothing. - As for the poor American tourist, all we can say is "Nearer my God to Thee"!

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pilib04 | Aug 29, 2012, 12:11 PM EDT

The last time I tried to climb Croagh Patrick, I had to give up after the first hour. I sympathize with this man's family and understand his desire to make the climb.

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