Portrait of the Pilgrim 2013

by Tom Bereska and Tom Szustek

Once again Uspecto photographers joined the efforts to climb the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo, Ireland during the annual pilgrimage, bringing back the new set of pilgrims portraits.

According to the legend, it was on the summit of the mountain that Saint Patrick fasted for forty days in 441 AD. Then, when descending he threw a silver bell down the side of the mountain, knocking the pagan she-demon Corra from the sky and banishing all the snakes from Ireland.

The pilgrimage takes place on the last Sunday of July. This tradition spans over 1500 years without interruption. Many pilgrims, as an act of penance undertake their walk barefoot.

  • Croagh Patrick, portrait of a male pilgrim with a walking stick
  • Portrait of Croagh Patrick male pilgrim
  • Pilgrims circulates around the St. Patrick's statue with Croagh Patrick in the background
  • Portrait of a female pilgrim with a walking stick, Croagh Patrick
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrim, portrait of a male pilgrim with a walking stick
  • Croagh Patrick male pilgrims chatting during a stopover while climbing the Reek
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrim, portrait of a male pilgrim with a dog in his coat
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrim, portrait of a female pilgrim
  • Standing bare feet Croagh Patrick pilgrim talks to an older sitting male pilgrim at the top of the mountain, Co. Mayo, Ireland
  • Croagh Patrick young female pilgrim with a walking stick
  • Portrait of the female Croagh Patrick pilgrim, Ireland
  • Portrait of a girl with a walking stick, Croagh Patrick pilgrim, Ireland
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrims climb the mountain with the walking sticks
  • Rosary around the neck of Croagh Patrick pilgrim, Co. Mayo, Ireland
  • portrait of the male pilgrim with a walking stick, Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo, Ireland
  • Portrait of the male pilgrim, Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo, Ireland
  • male pilgrim with te walking stick climb Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo, Ireland
  • Two female pilgrims at the slopes of Croagh Patrick, Ireland
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrim portrait
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrims climb the mountain with the walking sticks
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrim having a rest on the slope of the mountain
  • Croagh Patrick male pilgrim portrait
  • one barefoot pilgrim and two pilgrims with boots on the rocky path
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrim portrait with a walking stick, Co. Mayo, Ireland
  • Pilgrim descents from Croagh Patrick, Ireland
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrims at the top of the mountain
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrim kneeling with 2 others pilgrims around him
  • Croagh Patrick pilgrim with a walking stick
  • Croagh Patrick young male pilgrim face portrait
  • legs and walking stick of Croagh Patrick pilgrim who descents the mountain with a walking stick
  • Pilgrim climbs the Croagh Patrick mountain