Chai Brady
While hopes had been high that pilgrims could return in late July, Fr La Flynn of Lough Derg has confirmed that the traditional three-day pilgrimage will not take place this summer.
It is the first time since 1828 that the pilgrimage has been suspended with organisers conceding that the nature of the pilgrimage involves close contact in sometimes confined spaces.
Prior Fr Flynn said that “we approached the question of re-opening for the three-day pilgrimage with our Lough Derg mission and values at the forefront of our consciousness. We considered these alongside the Covid-safe practices that we would be required to implement to ensure pilgrim and staff safety.
“It is important to be clear about how we reached this decision, since we know that there are many pilgrims who will be disappointed with this news. Now when so many other aspects of life are moving, rather carefully, back towards what used to be normal, there will naturally be an expectation that the three-day pilgrimage could be possible.
Pilgrims
Some 5,000 people make the penitential pilgrimage each year during the period from June 1 until August 15.
Fr La thanked the “hundreds of pilgrims who have been in contact with us.
“Their support is carrying us through this difficult time,” he said.
He also confirmed that the ancient pilgrimage site “is facing substantial financial pressure”.
“The resources that sustain us annually come from the generous contributions of pilgrims. We are intending to open in a limited way on the lakeshore from July 6 and we are hoping that it may be possible to return to Station Island in the later part of the summer when we normally offer day retreats,” Fr La said.
Lough Derg has announced plans to offer pilgrims the oppotunity to ‘do Lough Derg from wherever you are’ in June. Further information on this can be found at www.loughderg.live