CROAGH PATRICK
COPYRIGHT: 2001
DIRECTOR: Gilbert LOREAUX
AUTHOR: Gilbert LOREAUX
FORMAT: DV Cam
DIFFUSION: Digital Betacam
DURATION: 13 minutes
TYPE: Documentary
VERSIONS: French
PRODUCTION: France 3, Lieurac Productions
PARTICIPAION: Centre Nationale de la Cinématographie

For the last 15 years, pilgrimages have taken place on the steep slopes of the sacred mountain, Croagh Patrick, on the West Coast of Ireland. Each year, on the last Sunday in July, pilgrims climb this mountain to take part in a mass which is celebrated at the summit, in honour of Saint Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century.
This same mountain, whose pyramid-like summit dominates the Atlantic Ocean and a scattering of small islands in Clew Bay, was already sacred for the shamans and the Druids 3000 years BC.
On this Sunday 29th July 2001, as on each last Sunday in July for many a year gone by, 25 to 30 thousand pilgrims gather to climb Croagh Patrick.