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Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Hundreds ignore warning not to climb Croagh Patrick, ten get hypothermia

Between 15,000 and 20,000 people were expected to climb what’s regarded as the country’s holiest mountain this weekend.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE have ignored warnings not to climb Croagh Patrick today, with ten needing treatment for hypothermia.

Earlier today, gardaí confirmed that Croagh Patrick’s annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage had been cancelled.

Between 15,000 and 20,000 people were expected to climb what’s regarded as the country’s holiest mountain this weekend.

Met Eireann then issued a yellow weather alert for today until 3pm forecasting heavy rain.

That led to the climb being cancelled, but hundreds ignored that warning and traversed up the peak regardless.

Many are believed to have been forced to turn back and Mayo Mountain Rescue Team confirmed to TheJournal.ie that ten people have been treated for hypothermia.

Due to the adverse weather conditions on the County Mayo mountain the pilgrimage had been called off, with gardaí saying the conditions are unsafe for climbers today.

Every year, thousands of people climb the mountain in pilgrimage, some even barefooted. Mass is said at the top of the mountain.

It’s believed the mountain rescue tents were blown down over night and the structure for Mass on the top was also blown away.

The pilgrimage schedule has been transferred to Lecanvey Church a mile past Croagh Patrick.

The pilgrimage is traditionally held on the last Sunday in July.

Around 13 volunteer mountain rescue teams from all over the country are in the area were due to be involved in today’s operation.

With reporting from Paul Hosford

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    Mute Ben Redline
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:47 PM

    I kinda wish the Robot was fitted with pepper spray.

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    Mute stephen
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    Aug 7th 2015, 8:39 PM

    Kinda,, o man I wish. Little brats.

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    Mute Seth Mcguinness
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:55 PM

    Human on robot violence is a relatively new phenomenon.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Aug 7th 2015, 5:01 PM

    It depends on what you call a robot because the Luddites were pretty violent on what technically were robots

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    Aug 7th 2015, 11:26 PM

    Some people shoot drones out of the sky

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    Mute Rod_TenⒸ
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:46 PM

    Thank god it’s not one of DOB’s robots or his lawyers would have sent the kids an angry letter.

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    Mute selfsustainable
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:48 PM

    Kinda sums up present world society pretty well.

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    Mute john kinsella
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    Aug 7th 2015, 10:56 PM

    There parents should have given them hammers. That thing will probably do them all out of a job in the future.

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    Mute Stephen M
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    Aug 7th 2015, 5:01 PM

    He’ll get them back when he gets his aerial drone upgrade.

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    Mute Liam Brophy
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:47 PM

    Chappie ?

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    Mute The Girl
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:48 PM

    Because human empathy is dying off. Have you seen the violence in some of the computer games and cartoons? Tom and Jerry? Hit people you don’t like with anything available. Your hands included. What a wonderful world.

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:59 PM

    Please, tell me more about this pre-video game/cartoon world where human empathy was so much more prevalent, there was no violence and it rained jelly babies.

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    Mute Laura Walsh
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:59 PM

    Don’t forget Itchy and Scratchy!

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    Mute Rod_TenⒸ
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    Aug 7th 2015, 5:15 PM

    Jelly babies were originally marketed as unwanted babies

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Aug 7th 2015, 7:46 PM

    While I agree that some video games are far too violent, to lump Tom & Jerry into this is just crazy.

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    Mute Derry Seery
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    Aug 7th 2015, 9:02 PM

    Haha, it’s really not that crazy! The original Tom & Jerry’s that they show on Boomerang are ridiculously violent, especially when you consider the target age groups.

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    Mute Jack DaCosta
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:48 PM

    LOL!
    The ring a ring a rosie thing on 25 seconds is hilarious.
    Kids are mad.

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    Mute Brian Jimp
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    Aug 8th 2015, 11:02 AM

    Those kids have cleverly preempted Skynet.

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    Mute flint
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    Aug 7th 2015, 7:59 PM

    frag out!!

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