St Patrick's Purgatory, Pilgrimage site on Station Island, Lough Derg, Ireland
St Patrick's Purgatory is a pilgrimage site located on Station Island in Lough Derg, County Donegal, housing a basilica, prayer stations, and dormitories. The island is surrounded by water and serves as a retreat center where visitors spend several days.
The site achieved international recognition in 1492 when it appeared on Martin Behaim's world map as the only Irish location marked. This prominence established its reputation as a pilgrimage destination across medieval Europe.
Pilgrims follow a three-day ritual involving continuous prayer, barefoot walking on stone paths, and eating simple meals of dry toast and oatcakes. These practices shape the rhythm and appearance of the site for visitors today.
The pilgrimage operates from late May through mid-August with regular ferry services connecting the mainland to Station Island. Visitors should prepare for basic living conditions and physical demands during their stay.
Records from 1826 show the site attracted around 15,000 pilgrims, roughly doubling to about 30,000 by 1846. Visitor numbers declined sharply afterward when Ireland experienced the Great Famine.
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