A little historical read...

THE DEANERY OF WESTPORT.

Parish of Westport.

The prominent place of the parish of Westport in the ecclesiastical history of the archdiocese, and indeed in the ecclesiastical history of Ireland, is unquestioned. There is some doubt about St. Patrick having visited other parishes and other districts, but there is none about his having visited the parish of Westport. On his western journey he went north to Rahins near Castlebar, and then, turning to the southwest, he passed by Aughagower to Cruach-an-Aigle, which was the ancient name for Croaghpatrick. At the foot of the mountain, in the plain of Mutrisk, and between the mountain and the sea, his charioteer Totmael died, and there St. Patrick buried him and raised a cairn of stones over his grave.

Then, on Shrove Saturday, the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, he ascended the mountain, and during the whole forty days of Lent he was engaged in fasting and prayer on the lonely summit of the hill. If scenery could bring him pleasure he ought to have been well content; for there was a wide stretch before him, even on the land side, and westward there was the limitless sea with Clew Bay and its myriad islands at his feet. On Cruach-an-Aigle his prayers were long, his fasting severe, his sufferings from wind and rain and cold and lonely vigils not easy to be borne. But he persevered, obtaining from God the favour that the faith of Ireland would never fail.

from: HISTORY of THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TUAM

By

THE RIGHT REV. MONSIGNOR D'ALTON

1928

You can read the entire Chapter XIV by following this link: