A THREE YEAR old was among at least eight people who were treated for hypothermia after climbing Croagh Patrick yesterday – despite warnings not to do so because of adverse weather conditions.
The annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage was cancelled yesterday after a yellow weather alert was issued. However a number of people ignored warnings from authorities and started their climb anyway.
This morning Paul Feeney from Mayo Mountain Rescue told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that it was “very frustrating” for the volunteers in his organisation to see people traversing the peak after they had been told not to.
In particular he was irked by those who thought it was appropriate to bring young children up with them in seriously dangerous conditions.
One of the things that stands out to me over the weekend, while we were up on Saturday we advised a young couple with a 12-week-old baby that they should not be on this mountain, carrying a 12-week-old baby up the side of a mountain. They ignored us and continued on.
A three year old was also among those treated for mild hypothermia after the climb he said.
Feeney said the decision to call off the pilgrim mass had been taken after much discussion between various authorities as well as local and priests from the area. Two of the organisation’s heavy duty tents were destroyed on Saturday by strong winds.
“We work on this hill, we know exactly what it can do and how quickly things can turn bad – listen to what we’re saying,” he said.
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