LAKESHORE ATTRACTIONS
Many people like to take a drive to Lough Derg without wanting to come over to the Island. There is much to do and enjoy at the lakeshore. Visitor Centre/ St. Brigid's Chapel These facilities, situated right at the lakeshore, are open all year round. The Visitor Centre has an interesting self-guided exhibition of the history of Saint Patrick's Purgatory. During the summer months it is staffed and some souvenir items are available for sale. |  |
St. Brigid's Chapel is a small intimate Exposition Chapel, perfect for private prayer. Mass can also be celebrated here for groups of up to 35 persons on arrangement (please contact info@loughderg.org).
The tabernacle is a unique piece of art, using glass and fibreoptic light, designed by Swiss artist and frequent pilgrim, Mr. Eugen Lang from Basel.
Patrick the Pilgrim Standing 8 foot tall on the lakeshore is a magnificent statue of a young and vibrant Patrick, sculpted by renowned sculptor, Ken Thompson. The statue, which was partially funded by the Millenium Council, was unveiled on June 7, 2002 by former hostage, Brian Keenan. |  |
The St.Patrick The St. Patrick rowing boat is displayed just as you drive into the car park. At 50 feet long, it is reputed to be the largest rowing boat in Ireland. The rowing boat was built on the site of Patrick the Pilgrim statue in 1926. It was licensed to carry 150 pilgrims and it took twelve men to row it. |  |
It was the principal means of transporting pilgrims until the 1950s. From the early 1960s until 1988, the motorized St. Brigid towed the St. Patrick. Children will enjoy seeing a boat of such magnitude while the older generation will enjoy reminiscing about their journeys aboard the St. Patrick.
The Lough Derg Pilgrim Path This interesting walk is part of the Heritage Council's Pilgrim Paths network. The walk follows the footsteps of the medieval pilgrim, not to Station Island where pilgrims go today, but to the threshold of the larger Saints Island, which acted as the gateway to it several hundred years ago. Starting at the Visitor Centre; walkers can pick up a guidebook (and follow the Pilgrim Markers to complete a journey of almost 9km. |  |
It is an easy walk, mainly on forestry trail but the walker can enjoy stopping off to see Saint Davog's Chair and Saint Brigid's Well as well as getting a good view of where the bridge would have been allowing pilgrims to cross over to Saints Island. Gulls of various kinds-black-backed, herring and the common gull are the most common wildbirds, but mallard and teal can be seen, and the occasional rare Greenland white-fronted goose can be spotted occasionally. A pair of swans are a common site who seem unable to protect their offspring from local wildlife.
Boat Trips From Easter to September, boat trips around the scenic Lough are available. Pre-booking is essential. It is the largest lake in Donegal, at the head of a river system and surrounded by many other small islands including Inish Goosk which has a large habitat of gulls. Anglers can avail of some good fishing in the lough, which has perch, pike and brown trout. Small fishing boats are also available for hire. Groups can also come onto the Island for a guided tour of this ancient Celtic site outside of the pilgrimage season. |  |
For information on fishing on Lough Derg, contact us or call directly at Brittons Bar Pettigo or Tullyhommon Post Office.
