The sanctity of Lough Derg

The sanctity of Lough Derg

Lough Derg--Pilgrimage--Middle Ages--Account

"From Armagh it is almost one day's journey to a certain Island, which is slightly large called Mabeoch and beyond this Island to a small island in which is the Purgatory aforsaid..."

Shane Leslie, 1885-1971

Peter, the Prior of Holy Trinity, Aldgate, c. 1230, Translated from the Latin: Lambeth MS. 51, Leslie, Shane, Saint Patrick's Purgatory: A Record from History and Literature, p. 12

Burns Oats and Washbourne Ltd, London

1932

Citation for the purposes of criticism

Collection of sources

English

Monograph

DD_0077

54.616218, -7.876212

"From Armagh it is almost one day's journey to a certain Island, which is slightly large called Mabeoch and beyond this Island to a small island in which is the Purgatory aforsaid. Only by water can anyone pass from the larger Island to the smaller by ferriage of a small boat. The larger Island is entirely surrounded by water and such is its authority and reverence amongst the natures that nobody dares injure another within the space of a day's journey from the water. But if someone has committed a theft against another and has reached the place where that Island is, and he who has suffered the theft comes to him, he dares not injure the thief, but would rather become his assistant in removing the stolen goods wherever the thief may wish. There is a church in this Island in which Canons serve God. Whoever wishes to enter the Purgatory will cross through this Island to the aforesaid small Island. But there is in that small Island a small Chapel, where old men were always dwelling living an anchoretic life, who were nourished on nothing but water mixed with milk and in the Lenten season they always fed on oaten bread containing a third part ashes."