PILGRIMS FLOCK TO This year, 120,000 people are expected. Now a new interpretive centre is planned to cater for the crowds. David Looby reports
EVER since the sixth century pilgrims have travelled great distances to Our Lady’s Island for spiritual succour and to pray and this year 120,000 more souls are making that journey.
The pilgrimage began on Monday, August 15, with the opening ceremony, which attracted a massive crowd.
Our Lady’s Island parish priest Fr Jim Cogley said such is the scale of the pilgrimage that an interpretative centre is needed.
Fr Cogley said: ‘I am drafting a skeleton plan which others will put flesh to. We’ve put in place a three-year plan as we need somewhere for people to go to on rainy days and a centre highlighting the history and the flora and fauna of the area.
‘We need an all-weather facility so people know they will be looked after here at Our Lady’s Island, a place which is charged with spirit. It could be developed at the clubhouse, which is owned by the parish.’
Crowds have been considerably up so far this year when compared with recent years and Fr Cogley attributes this to a ‘ thirst for spirituality’ among Irish people.
‘ There might be a decline in religion but there is a thirst for spirituality and that is something Our Lady’s Island can cater for. A lot of people are making it an annual retreat so they come fairly often during the pilgrimage season so I give a bit of depth and meaning to my sermons so people can go away with a sense of their souls being filled and their needs being met.’
During the pilgrimage, pilgrims move quietly round the island, either in organised groups or individually, reciting the Rosary.
The pilgrimage begins with a visit to the parish church before walking along the causeway to the shrine at the entrance to the island, with prayer there for a few moments. Next the pilgrim follows the path aronud the island, reciting the Rosary. Fr Cogley said the weather has been favourable overall this year, drawing large crowds to the opening ceremony, while massive crowds are expected at the candle-lit closing ceremony at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 8. Fr Cogley said: ‘On the day of the sick when the weather was bad we were able to get people into the church and the small hall so it worked out very well.’ ‘Generally the 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Masses are quite good and a lot of different groups from day care centres and retirement groups have been coming. We have changed the running order so that now instead of confessions after Mass we do a blessing of the sick.’ Fr Cogley said around 120,000 people visit Our Lady’s Island over the three weeks. ‘ They come from all around the country. We’ve had groups from Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Everyone has enjoyed the music at the services.’