Reek Sunday parking chaos averted as car park barrier fixed

Murrisk volunteers had threaten to withdraw Reek Weekend parking services over broken barrier

By Jack Good Published 23rd Jun 2026, 18:00 BST Updated 23rd Jun 2026, 21:00 BST The fixed parking barrier at the entrance to the carpark of Croagh Patrick | The Mayo News Murrisk volunteers had threaten to withdraw Reek Weekend parking services over broken barrier Sign up to our Mayo Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Mayo Live within your account.

Parking chaos at this year's Reek Sunday pilgrimage has been averted after Mayo County Council fixed a broken barrier at the entrance to the Croagh Patrick car park, following weeks of warnings from the local community group that manages the site.

The Murrisk Development Association (MDA), which co-ordinates traffic and parking for hundreds of vehicles over Reek Sunday weekend each July, had told councillors it would not manage parking during one of Ireland's busiest annual pilgrimages unless the damaged barrier at the foot of Croagh Patrick was replaced without delay.

The barrier was severely dented and torn from its fixture about four weeks ago when a vehicle crashed into it, and had since been held together with rope and chain.

READ NEXT: Reek Sunday parking chaos on cards at Mayo’s Holy Mountain

MDA chairperson Frank McCarrick said last month that the group could not ask its volunteers to take responsibility for vehicles left overnight without a secure barrier in place. “We couldn't really expect volunteers to take responsibility for the security of the place,” he said. “We have no powers of enforcement."

In a formal letter to councillors at that time, the MDA said it had issued “numerous verbal and text warnings” to council personnel without result, and warned it “regrettably will not be in a position to control and manage the parking of vehicles over Reek Weekend in July” if the issue was not resolved.

Read More Mayo one-off housing planning rules are ‘too strict’ - Minister Jack Chambers ‘Momentum’ behind multi-million tourism investment in Mayo estate Uisce Éireann issues appeal to the public in Mayo to conserve Reek Sunday parking chaos on cards at Mayo’s Holy Mountain Usual arrangements

With the repair now complete, McCarrick told The Mayo News that the association was satisfied to proceed with its usual arrangements. “We're delighted to see that the car park is more secure because of this barrier, and also because the barrier is in a safer condition — it's unlikely to cause damage or injury to anybody who would try to be working it,” he said.

“We would go ahead in the circumstances now, because the car park is secure with that barrier, so we will carry on with our usual efforts to manage the park here on Reek weekend.”

READ NEXT: ‘I don't mind if people do or don't like’ painting of Croagh Patrick

McCarrick added that the MDA appreciated the council's response: “We appreciate the fact that the council has made the effort to make the car park more secure, and we hope it can continue to be like that.”

Over Reek Sunday weekend, around 40 MDA volunteers manage traffic and parking across a 24-hour period beginning Saturday morning, accommodating up to 200 vehicles in the car park and as many as 600 in a leased field nearby. The association leases the car park from the council and co-ordinates with the Gardaí, Mountain Rescue, St John's Ambulance and other bodies involved in the weekend.

Last year, nearly 4,000 pilgrims climbed the Holy Mountain for Reek Sunday.

Related topics: Croagh Patrick Mayo County Council Councillors Parking Ireland Council Gardaí Sign up to our Mayo Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Mayo Live within your account.