Pat on the Back Priest climbs Croagh Patrick twice in two weeks for baptism and in support of Charlie Bird

A priest who climbed Croagh Patrick alongside Charlie Bird last Saturday was trekking the tough terrain for the second time in two weeks.

Fr John Kenny from Partry carried out the first ever baptism to take place on the top of the holy mountain a fortnight ago and donated his fee for the service to a Ukraine relief aid charity.

He revealed, "Oscar and Andrea Haack from Venezuela contacted me through Instagram and asked me to marry them and baptize their one year old son on the top of the mountain last week.

"Oscar carried the child, who they named Patrick would you believe, up the 2,500 feet climb and the thought struck me that over in the Ukraine fathers were carrying their children in far more dangerous circumstances so that’s what I decided to do with the offering they gave me.

"The couple are originally from Venezuela but live in Florida, they are not the first couple I married in the church at the top of the mountain but as far as can be ascertained it is the first baptism to take place up there.

"Luckily the weather held up as we have had days where in typical Irish fashion the wedding party would be halfway up the mountain when the weather changed and we all had to turn and come back down and have the ceremony in a local church.

"It’s funny everyone remarks that the couple and the guests are great to make the trek to the top but nobody says the poor old priest did well and it wouldn’t be his first time making the climb either, I'm well used to the climb by now.

"Still the bible tells us that our Lord preached from a mountain top, so I suppose I am following in his footsteps."

Andrea admitted he couple originally came up with the plan back in 2016, "We were here on holiday and just felt a real connection to the whole county but especially the mountain, we had planned to do it in 2020 but Covid cancelled that on us.

"The baby was brilliant. he slept all the way up to the top."

And she revealed the family may consider moving to Mayo on a permanent basis.

"That was something we discussed when we were here first, the whole area around the mountain is just so peaceful, it might not happen immediately but long term I wouldn’t rule it out."