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Mayo - 4
Tóchar Phádraig

Site/Artefact Tóchar Phádraig Type Trackway Site Number Mayo 087, 088, 097 and 98, site 046 National Grid Reference Map ( 1:50000) Ordnance Survey Ireland, Discovery Series 30, 31, 38 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

The Tóchar Phádraig approaching Croagh Patrick (Photo: Ballintubber Abbey Trust) Pilgrims on the Tóchar Phádraig (Photo: Ballintubber Abbey Trust)

Description
Trackways or toghers occur in large numbers throughout Ireland and are mainly found preserved in extensive tracts of bog (Morahan, 2001). Designed as a response to the growth of bogs in the Late Neolithic times and throughout the Bronze Age, these causeways kept open communications between useful areas of land (Mitchell & Ryan, 1997). Their construction is usually of wood, although other tough materials are known to have been used. The Tóchar Phádraig is reputedly the route St Patrick took on his way to ascend the sacred ritual mountain, Croagh Patrick. The Tóchar was the main route from Cruachan, the seat of the kings of Connaught to the important pre-Christian site at Cruachán Aigle as Croagh Patrick was known. Whether there was a prehistoric pilgrim road comparable to the medieval Tóchar Phádraig, which extends from Ballintubber Abbey in the East to Croagh Patrick is debatable (Corlett, 2000).

Excavation Details
Not Available

Access/Ownership
Tóchar Phádraig

References

• Corlett, C. 1996, Prehistoric Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick, Cathair na Mart, no. 16, p.58
• Hughes, H. 1991, Croagh Patrick, an Ancient Mountain Pilgrimage, Westport
• Mitchell, F. Ryan, M. 1997, Reading the Irish Landscape, Dublin, pp 213-14
• Morahan, L. 2001 Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo archaeology, landscape and people, Croagh Patrick Archaeological Committee, Mayo, p.81 

Check out the following sections of the website for related information:

• Croagh Patrick

Mayo Sites and Artefacts

1. Mayo Abbey 2. Balla 3. Ballintubber Abbey 4. Tóchar Phadraig 5. Aghagower 6. Lankhill 7. Boheh 8. Croagh Patrick Summit 9. Carrownalurgan 10. Ardoley 11. Kiladangan 12. Glaspatrick 13. Shrawee 14. Clare Island - Strake 15. Clare Island - Lecarrow 16. Caher Island 17. Durless

18. Carrowmore 19. Knappaghmanagh 20. Cushalogurt 21. Carrowkeel Ecclesiastical Remains 22. Thornhill 23. Carrowkeel Murrisk 24. Carrowkeel Cahernaran 25. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-1 26. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-2 27. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-3 28. Carrowmacloughlin/ Glencally/ Teevenacroaghy 29. Carrowmacloughlin Sweathouses 30. Glaspatrick Holy Well

31. Glaspatrick Rath-1 32. Glaspatrick Early Ecclesiastical Remains 33. Glaspatrick Ringfort 34. Glaspatrick Rath-2 35. Glaspatrick Ecclesiatical Remains 36. Glaspatrick Altar 38. Glaspatrick Graveyard 39. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-1 40. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-2 41. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-3 42. Teevenacroaghy

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