The Tóchar
Phádraig approaching Croagh Patrick
(Photo: Ballintubber Abbey Trust)
Pilgrims on the
Tóchar Phádraig
(Photo: Ballintubber Abbey
Trust)
Description Trackways
or toghers occur in large numbers throughout
Ireland and are mainly found preserved in extensive
tracts of bog (Morahan, 2001). Designed as a
response to the growth of bogs in the Late
Neolithic times and throughout the Bronze Age,
these causeways kept open communications between
useful areas of land (Mitchell & Ryan, 1997).
Their construction is usually of wood, although
other tough materials are known to have been used.
The Tóchar Phádraig is reputedly the
route St Patrick took on his way to ascend the
sacred ritual mountain, Croagh Patrick. The
Tóchar was the main route from Cruachan, the
seat of the kings of Connaught to the important
pre-Christian site at Cruachán Aigle as
Croagh Patrick was known. Whether there was a
prehistoric pilgrim road comparable to the medieval
Tóchar Phádraig, which extends from
Ballintubber Abbey in the East to Croagh Patrick is
debatable (Corlett, 2000).
Excavation Details Not Available
Access/Ownership
Tóchar Phádraig
References
Corlett, C. 1996, Prehistoric Pilgrimage to
Croagh Patrick, Cathair na Mart, no. 16,
p.58
Hughes, H. 1991, Croagh Patrick, an Ancient
Mountain Pilgrimage, Westport
Mitchell, F. Ryan, M. 1997, Reading the
Irish Landscape, Dublin, pp 213-14
Morahan, L. 2001 Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo
archaeology, landscape and people, Croagh
Patrick Archaeological Committee, Mayo,
p.81
Check out the following
sections of the website for related
information:
Trackways
or toghers occur in large numbers throughout
Ireland and are mainly found preserved in extensive
tracts of bog (Morahan, 2001). Designed as a
response to the growth of bogs in the Late
Neolithic times and throughout the Bronze Age,
these causeways kept open communications between
useful areas of land (Mitchell & Ryan, 1997).
Their construction is usually of wood, although
other tough materials are known to have been used.
The Tóchar Phádraig is reputedly the
route St Patrick took on his way to ascend the
sacred ritual mountain, Croagh Patrick. The
Tóchar was the main route from Cruachan, the
seat of the kings of Connaught to the important
pre-Christian site at Cruachán Aigle as
Croagh Patrick was known. Whether there was a
prehistoric pilgrim road comparable to the medieval
Tóchar Phádraig, which extends from
Ballintubber Abbey in the East to Croagh Patrick is
debatable (Corlett, 2000).
This
project has been supported by the EU as part of the Culture
2000 programme.