A Journey to Lough Derg

Last July, 22 years after my first visit to Lough Derg, I went back for the three-day pilgrimage or 'challenge' as I described it to my curious friends.

Plenty of people asked 'Why are you going?'. There were a few reasons. I had a list of people that I decided to pray for as well as my own worries. The tragic death of a young person whose family I knew. A digital detox. Gratitude for surviving the pandemic. Concern about family members. Anxiety over a toxic workplace. Recovery from traumatic experiences. Concern about the influences affecting so many young people today. Wanting to see if my prayers would really help other people and make a difference to my life. 

Arriving on the St. Oliver Plunkett pilgrimage bus, the heavens opened and it rained non-stop (or so it seemed) for 24 hours. The wind cut through my bones like a knife.  I witnessed with awe, the small acts of kindness all around me. The gentle help to an older pilgrim who was in danger of falling in the mud. The offer of a dry coat by someone who was heading to bed, to someone whose clothes were soaked through. The bonding between people who would not have known each other in their ordinary lives. We were "all in it together".

Being alone without distractions made me reflect on what I had done and where I had failed and what I wanted to do better.  

There were also some fun moments - the conversations and laughter at our 'mealtimes' and sharing our stories.

When I left, I was glad that I had done it but said an emphatic 'No' when I was asked, "Would you go back?"

So now I am looking at the website and thinking, "When are the bookings opening?"

Special thanks to the organising team who made it happen and to the people who went out of their way to help others who needed it during that rainy weekend in July.

-Anon