Lough Derg, County Donegal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough Derg |
|
|---|---|
Station Island
|
|
 Location in island of Ireland
|
|
| Location | County Donegal, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°36′50″N 7°52′20″W / 54.61389°N 7.87222°W |
| Native name | Loch Dearg Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Basin countries | Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland |
| Surface area | 890 hectares (2,200 acres) |
Lough Derg or Loch Derg (Irish: Loch Dearg) is a beautiful lake in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. It is very close to the border with Northern Ireland. The lake is about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) north of a village called Pettigo. Lough Derg is most famous for St Patrick's Purgatory. This is a special place for pilgrimage located on Station Island in the middle of the lake.
The lake is quite large, covering about 890 hectares (2,200 acres). However, it is not very deep, which can make it a bit risky during bad weather. Lough Derg is home to different types of fish. You can find pike, perch, and brown trout here, making it a popular spot for angling (fishing).
The Famous Pilgrimage
The traditional three-day pilgrimage at Lough Derg has been happening for over a thousand years! It's a very old and special journey. This pilgrimage can start on any day between June 1st and August 13th. It lasts for three days.
During the pilgrimage, participants follow a strict routine. They can only have one special Lough Derg meal each day. This meal usually includes black tea or coffee, dry toast, oat cakes, and water. When people arrive on Station Island, they take off their shoes and socks. Then, they begin saying prayers and walking around the island.
A special part of the pilgrimage is a 24-hour night vigil. This means pilgrims stay awake and pray for a whole day and night. Generally, pilgrims leave on the morning of the third day after getting some sleep on their second night. They finish their special fast at midnight on the day they leave. This pilgrimage is usually for people aged 15 years and older. Pilgrims need to be able to walk and kneel by themselves. They also need to be physically able to do the fast.
Islands of Lough Derg
Lough Derg has many islands and small islets, about 30 in total! Station Island, where the pilgrimage happens, is one of them. Here are some of the other islands you can find in the lake:
- Allingham's Island
- Ash Island
- Boat Island
- Bull's Island
- Derg Beg Island
- Derg More Island
- Friar's Island
- Goose Lodge
- Gravelands Islands
- Illan Philipboy
- Inishgoosk
- Kelly's Isles
- Long Island
- Saints Island (This island has a graveyard and the hidden ruins of an old monastery.)
- Trough Island
A Monster in the Lake?
Lough Derg also has an interesting story from folklore. Long ago, a man named Conan supposedly threw a worm into the lake. This worm then grew into a huge monster called Caoránach! The monster started eating all the local cattle.
When most of the cattle in the area of Ulster disappeared, people blamed Conan. Conan, feeling very angry, then attacked the giant beast and managed to kill it. The story says that the monster's blood dyed the rocks red. This is believed to be how Lough Derg got its name, as "Derg" means "red" in Irish.
