This Abbey was founded by Fr. Hugh O’ Malley in 1457, after receiving the land from the local chieftain (said to be a grandfather to Grainnuaile). Fr. Hugh had sought permission to
News
Boheh Stone
New panel of ancient rock carving was found at the Boheh Stone in 2014. Archaeologist Michael Gibbons found a new piece of rock art dating the stone age and this resulted in national press coverage, further reaffirming the site as a piece of highly significant national heritage.
St Patrick’s Weekend Walking Festival
This three day walking festival explores the rich history of many heritage sites (over 50 sites) and the beauty of the Mayo landscape. The festival takes place annually in March on the weekend after St Patricks Day (17th March). Duration is under revision due to extension of trail to Knock
Midsummer Walking Festival
This year this was one day festival from Aughagower to Murrisk, however, in previous year has been a two or three day event along the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail.
Boheh Stone Walk
The townland of Boheh, Co Mayo contains a remarkable example of prehistoric rock art, the Boheh Stone, which dates from the Neolithic period (4000-2500BC). The stone can be found along a narrow side road, hidden away behind a derelict house and unkempt vegetation, it is a large natural outcrop of rock known as ‘St. Patrick’s Chair’. Upon its surface (spread out over 4 m²) over 250 individual petroglyphs are carved. Standing at Boheh Rock/St. Patrick’s Chair on April 18th and 24th of August, looking west, the sun appears to set right on the peak of Croagh Patrick itself. Not only that, but it then subsequently appears, to an observer standing at the Boheh stone, that the sun rolls down the north side of the conical peak itself, revealing the phenomenal ‘rolling sun’ effect. The CPHT hosts a walk to the stone on both occasions of the Rolling Sun phenomena.
Kildangan Solstice Walk
This is a heritage walk to the archaeological complex at Kildangan near the village of Murrisk taking place on or around 21st December to witness the Winter Solstice. This ancient site contains a Bronze Age circular enclosure and a stone row of five stones, situated east of Croagh Patrick; this suggests it was a site of major importance. At circa 1.40- 1.50 p.m. on December 21st (Winter Solstice), the sun is observed to rest in a niche on the eastern shoulder of Croagh Patrick at which point it is directly in line with the stones before disappearing the far side of the mountain, the phenomenon lasts roughly for 10 minutes weather permitting.
Bat Walk in Brackloon Wood on the CPHT
The CPHT is hosting a Bat Walk with the help of Ecologist Jackie Hunt on September 21st at 7.15p.m. There will be a cover charge of €5 and the evening will include bat identification with detector devices. This is the second Bat Walk on the CPHT last year’s was a great success with Pipistrelle bats being seen and detected with bat detector devices.
Extension of CPHT from Knock to Balla
The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail is being extended from Knock to Balla an extension of nearly 30km. This is an exciting development and work is ongoing on this.