Participants in the Elphin Diocese’s and Ballinasloe & District pilgrimages to Lough Derg, June 22nd – 24th 2018
The Achonry and Elphin diocese’s three-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg will take place from Friday 12th June to Sunday 14th June 2026.
As well as praying for our personal intentions we will invoke God’s blessing on our parishes and dioceses.
Introduction to Lough Derg
St. Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg, is among the oldest centres of Christian Pilgrimage in Western Europe, dating back to the sixth century. It lies about four miles north of the village of Pettigo in County Donegal, in the Diocese of Clogher, and is renowned in Irish Christian tradition since the time of St. Patrick.
Lough Derg is a special place of peace and personal challenge and has been receiving pilgrims continuously for well over 1000 years.
For many it is also a place of great healing, an extraordinary place where profound communion between God and the individual takes place and usually is unseen and unheard by anyone except the person themselves.
Achonry & Elphin Diocesan Pilgrimage 2026
The pilgrimage is reserved to adults over eighteen years of age who are in good health and who do not have any disability or health condition that could give rise to difficulties for the person over the course of the pilgrimage.
Pilgrims are asked to be at the Island for 1 pm on Friday 12th June.
They will depart the Island c. 10 am on Sunday 14th June.
Information on Lough Derg
Please visit: www.loughderg.org
Practical Information
Please consult the Lough Derg website.
For example, raingear is advised in inclement weather … and a warm jacket.
Cost per person (excluding travel)
General Admission to Island: €85
Senior Citizen’s & Students: Awaiting information
Payable online, or on the bus or, for those travelling by car, on arrival at Lough Derg.
Travel to and from Lough Derg
Pilgrims are welcome to make their own travel arrangements to and from Lough Derg
or avail of a Special Pilgrim Bus Service, subject to interest and pending available places.
Pilgrim Bus Schedules and Booking Arrangement
* Subject to demand and viability the following bus service will be provided.
** Should bus provider fuel costs lessen, the related reduction will be passed on to pilgrims.
Ballinasloe – Athlone- Roscommon – Boyle – Sligo – Drumcliffe – Grange – Cliffoney – Lough Derg
Departure Times, Pick-up Points & Cost (approximate)
8.15 am
St. Michael’s Church,
Ballinasloe
Cost: €60 return
14.30 pm (Return time on Sunday)
8.45 am
Ganly’s Hardware,
Roscommon Rd.
Athlone
Cost: €60 return
14.00 pm (Return time on Sunday)
9.15 am
Casey’s Circle K Car park
Athlone Rd,
Roscommon
Cost: €55 return
13.30 pm (Return time on Sunday)
9.30 am
Filling Station
Tulsk
Cost: €50 return
13.15 pm (Return time on Sunday)
10 am
St. Joseph’s Church Car park
Boyle
Cost: €50 return
12.45 pm (Return time on Sunday)
10.25 am
Castlebaldwin Roundabout Car park
Cost: €45 return
12.20 pm (Return time on Sunday)
11 am
Summerhill College Car park
Sligo
Cost: €45 return
11.55 am (Return time on Sunday)
11.15 am
St. Colmcille’s Church
Drumcliffe
€40 return
11.35 am (Return time on Sunday
11.40 am
Church of Mary Immaculate
Grange
€35 return
11.20 am (Return time on Sunday)
12 noon
Church of St Molaise
Cliffoney
€35 return
11 am (Return time on Sunday)
13.00
Arrival at Lough Derg
To reserve a place on this bus please contact Justin Harkin @ 087 6171526 / [email protected] before Friday 5th June.
Places on a first-come first-served basis.
All Other Enquiries
Please contact Justin Harkin @ 087 6171526 / [email protected] .
Updated: 29th April 2026