Lough Derg (Ulster) 3.12

Lough Derg or Loch Derg is a lake in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. It is near the border with Northern Ireland and lies about 7km north of the border village of Pettigo. It is best known for St Patrick's Purgatory, a site of pilgrimage on Station Island in the lake.The lake is about 890ha in size, but is quite shallow, making it dangerous during bad weather. It has stocks of pike, perch and brown trout for angling.Annual PilgrimageThe traditional three-day pilgrimage follows a one-thousand-year-old pattern. It begins on any day between June the first and August the 13th and lasts three days during which participants may only have one Lough Derg meal each day. On arrival on the island, participants remove footwear and socks before commencing vocal prayers, walking around the island. A 24-hour night vigil then takes place. Generally, pilgrims depart on the morning of the third day and complete their fast at midnight that night Organisers prohibit children under fifteen years from participating in the fast.IslandsIncluding Station Island, there are about 30 islands and islets in Lough Derg, including: Allingham's IslandAsh IslandBoat IslandBull's IslandDerg Beg IslandDerg More IslandFriar's IslandGoose LodgeGravelands IslandsIllan PhilipboyInishgooskKelly's IslesLong IslandSaints Island (on which there is a graveyard and the buried ruins of a monastery)Trough Island