Of around 20,000 people taking part in the annual Reek Sunday Pilgrimage on Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo, 12 people have been injured, with two people sustaining serious injuries.

A spokesperson for Mayo Mountain rescue said that the "majority of the people hurt sustained lower leg injuries" reports TheJournal.ie.

One of the seriously injured pilgrims was a woman in her 50s who sustained lacerations to her head and was rescued from near the summit at 7:30 in the morning. The second person to sustain serious injury was a man, also in his 50s, is thought to have suffered a serious cardiac arrest. He was attended to by the Order of Malta at around 10:30 in the morning.

Both victims were airlifted via helicopter to Mayo General Hospital. Mayo Mountain rescue maintained a presence until around 8pm to anticipate and attend to any further casualties.

This year's pilgrimage was led by Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam. He was accompanied by Archbishop Charles J Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland as wells as Bishop of Achonry Brendan Kelly. The climb began at 7 in the morning.