Mayo Mountain Rescue has reported its busiest six-week period ever – with the majority of call-outs relating to people who have fallen while climbing Croagh Patrick.
Ten of the 14 call-outs involved casualties who fell while descending the “Holy Mountain”. The Irish Coast Guard, which was involved in airlifting four of them, had to winch people directly off the mountain. Most of the injuries sustained on Croagh Patrick tended to be lower limb injuries and dislocations.
So great is the injury toll on the 2,510ft mountain that Mayo County Council is to seek planning permission for the construction of a permanent helicopter landing pad on the summit or the higher slopes.
Mary Walshe, team leader with Mayo Mountain Rescue, said the number of call-outs in the past number of weeks had been “unprecedented”.