In 1999, artist Chris Doris spent forty days and forty nights living and working on top of Croagh Patrick. Doris, who was the artist-in-residence for Mayo County Council, envisaged this experience as a “social sculpture”. 

He met with over 1,500 people who climbed The Reek and was amazed at the number of people who reached the summit cold and injured having climbed with inadequate clothing. He spent a lot of time “doling out tea and administering first aid.”   

Doris interviewed thousands of climbers and pilgrims about their personal and spiritual journeys, to find out what connects them to the mountain. 

What is it about The Reek that gets under people’s skin and pulls them back each year?

First broadcast in March 2000.