The Quietest Day of My Year: Finding Peace on Station Island

For a long time, the loudest thing in my life was my phone. The constant ping of notifications and the endless scroll of news left me feeling frayed, like a battery that would no longer hold a charge. I knew I needed a reset, something deeper than a weekend on the couch. I needed breathing space.

That’s what led me to step onto the boat for a One Day Retreat at Lough Derg.

As the boat pulled away from the shore, I felt a physical shift. The ten-minute crossing is short, but it feels like a journey between worlds. Leaving the mainland behind: and purposefully tucking my phone into the bottom of my bag: I watched the wake of the boat cut through the grey-blue water. In that moment, the digital noise simply stopped.

Upon arrival, there is a gentle hospitality that makes you feel immediately at home. After tea and scones, we gathered in Saint Patrick’s Basilica. There is something sacred about the weight of the air inside those stone walls. We were guided through a rhythm of prayer and reflection: a far cry from the chaotic noise and distractions of daily life. Here, the silence wasn't empty; it was full of presence.

The highlight for me was the Eucharist. In the stillness of the afternoon, the world felt right again. I wasn't an employee, a parent, or a consumer: I was just me, unburdened and held in a deep, ancient peace.

Pilgrim Vanessa
Visited September 2025