Minister Dara Calleary has announced €42,000 in funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to support the maintenance and management of the restored Croagh Patrick path for 2026. This initiative continues the collaboration between the Department, Mayo County Council, and the Croagh Patrick Stakeholder Forum, ensuring the sustainability of the path following its restoration in 2024.
The restored path, which took years of painstaking work to complete, has improved both visitor safety and the protection of the mountain’s habitat. Minister Calleary emphasized that ongoing maintenance is essential to preserve these benefits and commended the stakeholder group and volunteers for their dedication to the mountain and its visitors.
Martin Keating, chair of the Croagh Patrick Stakeholders Group, welcomed the funding, noting that it will ensure the path remains robust, the mountain continues to recover from erosion, and visitors enjoy a safer experience. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between government, local initiatives such as the Friends of Croagh Patrick, and community stakeholders.
Michael McDermott, Head of Tourism at Mayo County Council, also expressed support, recognizing Croagh Patrick’s cultural, heritage, and environmental significance, as well as its role as a flagship tourism destination for Mayo.
This funding aligns with Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the national outdoor recreation strategy launched in 2022, which provides a framework for sustainable growth of outdoor recreation. It also builds on the Croagh Patrick Sustainable Access and Habitat Restoration Project, which addressed severe erosion caused by over 50,000 annual visitors, supported by €525,000 from the Department and €135,000 from Mayo County Council.
