St Patrick's Purgatory

#77 among destinations in Ireland

Island, Top attraction, Church

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Facts and practical information

St Patrick's Purgatory is an ancient pilgrimage site on Station Island in Lough Derg, County Donegal, Ireland. According to legend, the site dates from the fifth century, when Christ showed Saint Patrick a cave, sometimes referred to as a pit or a well, on Station Island that was an entrance to Purgatory. Its importance in medieval times is clear from the fact that it is mentioned in texts from as early as 1185 and shown on maps from all over Europe as early as the fifteenth century. It is the only Irish site designated on Martin Behaim's world map of 1492. ()

Alternative names: Coordinates: 54°36'33"N, 7°52'16"W

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DonegalIreland

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Day trips

St Patrick's Purgatory – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Lough Derg, Pettigo, Pettigo Plateau.

0.5 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lough Derg
14 min walk • Lough Derg or Loch Derg is a lake in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. It is near the border with Northern Ireland and lies about 7 kilometres north of the border village of Pettigo.
4.4 miS
Locality
Pettigo
112 min walk • Pettigo, also spelt Pettigoe, is a small village on the border of County Donegal, Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
2.9 miW
National park
Pettigo Plateau
74 min walk • Pettigo Plateau is a blanket bog and wet heath, Ramsar site, protected area and national nature reserve of approximately 224 acres in County Donegal.