Church

The National Monuments Service's description

This church is named ‘Temple Patrick’ on the 1838 and 1920 OS 6-inch maps, but there is now no visible trace of it at ground level (Morahan 2001, 128). It is unknown when it was built. It was still in use when it was recorded in the 1838 OS Letters as ‘the little chapel called Teampull Patruig, which is sixteen feet long [4.9m] and eight broad [2.4m] at the east end, where the stone Altar is placed, and only five [1.5m] at the entrance. Its east gable is eight and a half feet high [2.6m], and many votive nails and rags are thrust in between the stones.’ (O'Flanagan 1927, 434-7 (216-7). It was surrounded by a rough enclosure or wall (MA087-044003-).
A visit to the chapel was part of the traditional pattern or round of prayers which took place on the summit: ‘The Pilgrim kneels before the Altar and repeats fifteen Aves and one Creed’ (ibid. 434-7 (216-7)). A programme of survey and excavations in 1994-5 uncovered the remains close by of an early medieval church (MA087-044005-). It is likely that successive churches or oratories have been erected on the summit over the centuries. The church which now stands on the summit was built in 1905, and was extended in 1962.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 19 March 2020

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1927 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Mayo collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838. Bray.

Morahan, L. 2001 Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo. Archaeology, landscape and people. The Croagh Patrick Archaeological Committee, Westport, Co. Mayo.