Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain, put up a fight on a hot summers day on Saturday 28th August.

Twenty Knights, young and old, from across the country, along with wives, rose to the challenge of this years Communications Team.

The theme was “Lets Climb Together” which after the past two years under Covid restrictions was a fitting title to a magnificent challenge.

The Team met in the carpark at the foot of the mountain to avail of the new T-shirts designed for the occasion. The Orders new clothing range was also on show for the first time by Brother Colm O’Farrell (Supreme Communications Officer) and received great response from all at the gathering.

The climb was destined to be a difficult one, not just because of the loose ground under-foot from the outset, but also because of the 28 degree heat that was making it one of the hottest days for a few weeks and maybe the warmest that month. A few seccumbed to the difficult terrain and soaring temperatures at the quarter way mark and, through no fault of their own, had to turn and admit defeat. Never to be named….

The remainder of the team strode forward, determined to make the top. The young QUB knights made it look easy with a great summit time of 1 hour 30mins, with others close behind.

The celebration of mass at the top had been pre-arranged and with the oratory opened, Fr. Dixie Faber and Fr. Martin Whelan were at the centre of the celebration of the Eucharist on the top of the “Reek”. It was a glorious way to top a great achievement by the team, some of whom had never set foot on a mountain of any sort before.

A big congratulations to the Communications Team for organising a great event that was the centre of a fantastic social weekend, long overdue. This is hopefully going to be an annual challenge and we hope it encourages many more to take part next year