The History of Lough Derg

The History of Lough Derg

Lough Derg--Vicinity--Approach--Travel guide

An account of the town of Pettigo

James Fraser

A hand book for travellers in Ireland, descriptive of its scenery, towns, seats, antiquities, etc., with various statistical tables. Also an outline of its mineral structure, a brief view of its botany, and information for anglers, p. 532

W. Curry, Dublin

1844

Digitised by Google, sponsored by New York Public Library, archived on Hathi Trust digital library

Public domain

Handbook

English

Travel guide

DD_0474

54.616218, -7.876212

"The lake covers 2,140 statute acres; its shores are wild and dreary; and its principal islets are Inishgoosk, Saint's island, and Station island, or St. Patrick's Purgatory: even these are very small; and the remainder, which serve to break and vary the surface of its dark waters, are, with few exceptions, mere groups of rock. On Saint's island are the remnants of a priory. This island, in remote ages, was the resort of pilgrims, and contained the original Patrick's Purgatory. The place of penance is now, and has been for several centuries on Station island, which is within half a mile of the south-east shores of the lake; it is less than an acre in extent, and contains, in addition to two small officiating priests, and a few cabins. In spite of the prohibitory edicts of several of the popes and orders of the Irish privy council in former days for its suppression, it has maintained its celebrity; and the numbers who still annually flock hither to expiate their offences, from the 1st of June to the 15th of August, are variously stated at from ten to fifteen thousand. One thing is certain, that the ferry which was long rented at 4:300 per annum, now pays £160."

xi, 735 p. map. 12mo.