It is best known for St Patrick’s Purgatory, a site of pilgrimage on Station Island in the lake. The lake is about 8.9 square kilometres (3.4 square miles) in size, but is quite shallow, making it dangerous during bad weather. It has stocks of pike, perch and brown trout for angling.
■ Annual pilgrimage
The traditional three-day pilgrimage follows a one-thousand-year-old pattern. It begins on any day between 1 June and 13 August and lasts three days during which participants may only have one Lough Derg meal each day (black tea/coffee, dry toast, oat cakes, water). On arrival on the island, participants remove footwear and socks before commencing vocal prayers, walking around the island. A 24-hour night vigil then takes place on the first night. Generally, pilgrims depart on the morning of the third day having slept on their second night. They complete their pilgrimage fast at midnight the day of departure. The pilgrimage is suitable for persons over 15 years. Pilgrims must be able to walk and kneel unaided and be physically able to undertake the fast.
■ Islands
Including Station Island, there are about 30 islands and islets in Lough Derg, including: 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 (on which there is a graveyard and the buried ruins of a monastery) Trough Island
■ Folklore
According to folklore a man named Conan once threw a worm into the lake. The worm then grew into a large monster called Caoránach that devoured the local cattle. Once a majority of the cattle in Ulster died the locals blamed Conan who then enraged attacked the beast, killing it. Its blood dyed the rocks red and this is where the name Lough Derg comes from.

南東 0.5Km	St Patrick's Purgatory
北西 14.4Km	Lough Eske
北西 16.0Km	Donegal Castle
南西 16.8Km	Ballintra
北東 21.3Km	Finn Park
北東 21.5Km	Drumboe Castle
北東 21.6Km	MacCumhaill Park
南西 22.8Km	Rossnowlagh
南西 24.0Km	Ballyshannon Castle
北西 27.1Km	Lough Ea

vTourMap 🝙 Lough Derg, County Donegal 🝙 Loch Dearg

vTourMap 🝙 　 Lough Derg, County Donegal　 🝙 　 Loch Dearg