Sutton Coldfield Past President climbs Croagh Patrick on 65th birthday

By Patrick Sharkey

The three Brothers pictured at the top of Croagh Patrick

When most men reach the age of 65, they start to think about taking things a bit easier. But Sutton Coldfield past president Paddy Hopkins has other ideas. To those of you who know brother Paddy, you will not be surprised that he has no intention of taking it easy.
His ambition on his 65th birthday was to travel to his home county of Mayo in the west of Ireland to climb Croagh Patrick.
Croagh Patrick is the most prominent mountain overlooking Clew Bay on the Atlantic coast of Mayo, rising some 2600ft from the base, which proves a very difficult and dangerous climb.
'The reek' as it is locally known has borne the name of Ireland's patron saint for some fifteen hundred years.
St Patrick was extremely tired when he was in Mayo, he sought solitude to reflect and rest whilst pouring his heart out to God so Ash Wednesday in the year 441, he retreated to the mountain.
It was here where he spent forty days fasting and in deep prayer. News was bought to him of a new pope ruling in the Church of Rome titled St Leo the Great. Patrick sent his disciple named Munis to the pope to enlighten him of his labour, teachings and to beg for a blessing for the new Church of Ireland.
Munis returned with sacred relics for the altars that Patrick was building in Ireland and Patrick was approved as the first Bishop of Ireland.
Pilgrims began to do penance on the mountain and records show that on the night of 17th of March 1131, thirty people perished on the summit during severe weather.
According to the 'Annals of Boyle', crowned in 1225, Hugh O'Connor, King of Connaught, cut the hands and feet off outlaws who interfered with pilgrims heading to Croagh Patrick.
The pilgrimages to the holy mountain have continued to the present day and now added to the list of the many to have climbed this holy mountain over the centuries, are Brother's Paddy Hopkins, Bob O'Malley and Pat Sharkey.
On Saturday 13th of October, their wives Val, Kathy and Mary were left in the comfort of a hotel to enjoy a leisurely lunch and the spa facilities of the hotel, while our three brave Catenians made tracks for the mountain. The round trip was made in a little less than four hours, which included some time on the top to say a few prayers, enjoy the fantastic views and toast Brother Paddy's birthday with a drop of the hard stuff.
Speaking of the climb Brother Paddy said, “It was a fantastic day, we were blessed with the weather, a real sense of achievement when you reach the top. It was a day I was proud to share with my fellow brothers and a day I shall never forget.”