0031 Lough Derg

St. Patrick’s Purgatory, more commonly referred to as Lough Derg because of its location in the lake of the same name in Co Donegal, is a pilgrimage site which dates back to the Fifth Century. Since then, uninterrupted for over 1500 years, it has been a place of Christian pilgrimage and prayer. The pilgrimage takes place on Station Island, and it has St. Patrick as its patron. The original monastery on Saints Island in the same lake claimed St Davog, one of Patrick’s disciples, as its founder abbot. Mainly due to restrictions of weather conditions, the pilgrimage season is a relatively short one: the traditional Three Day Pilgrimage runs from 1st June to 15th August; Day Retreats are held in May, late August and September; school retreats are held in April-May and in September.