Lough Derg Retreat 2026

The Ulster Regional Retreat for Autumn 2026 will be held

at St Patrick’s Sanctuary, Lough Derg

on September 25th-27th.

 

 

Register now for a weekend of adoration, talks, prayer, and time together!

 

 

Stay and eat on site as part of the retreat, just bring a sleeping bag and some warm clothes as well as the usual necessities for an overnight, and everything else will be provided. Please register in advance to help us prepare for your arrival – it only takes a few minutes and even less if you have been with us before!

This weekend WILL be a typical Youth 2000 Retreat taking place on Lough Derg. It WILL NOT be a typical ‘Lough Derg Pilgrimage’.

Registration onsite opens at 19:30 on Friday the 25th September, please don’t plan to arrive before this time unless you are helping us to set up so we have time to prepare for your arrival.

For more information about our retreats and what the weekend will be like, including a sample schedule, please visit our FAQ page, or email office@youth2000.ie.

Youth 2000 retreats are for anyone aged 16-35, but everyone is welcome to pop in for the day for Holy Mass!

DIRECTIONS

Please follow eircode F94 K725, or the map directions HERE

If you put The Sanctuary Car Park, Lough Derg into Google maps it will come up also. This is important, rather than a general search for ‘Lough Derg’ , so you will be directed to the correct part of the lake for boarding the boats.

BOAT TIMES

The boats will travel to the island on the Friday evening at 19:00, 20:00 with the LAST BOAT at 21:00.

On Saturday & Sunday, boats will travel in the morning at 09:00 and 10:00, after the boats will be on standby. Please contact the office mobile +353838405552 on arrival to the mainland car park if you need information on boat crossings.

COST

In normal circumstances, Youth 2000 is completely donation only so that financial circumstances might not be an obstacle for anyone who wishes to attend!

However, in this particular case there is a charge for use of the facilities such as the boat, and for the overnight accommodation. If you are staying for the weekend, the cost including accommodation is €45. If you wish to attend just for the day the cost is €15 (this is to cover the boat & facilities).

This charge goes directly, in-full, from Youth 2000 to Lough Derg for the use of the facilities and accommodation and Youth 2000 does not receive any if it.

When you are registering there will be an option to pay by card. If you prefer, you may also pay in advance by bank transfer (see details below), or when you arrive by card or with cash.

  • Account Name: Youth 2000
  • Bank: AIB
  • Account No.: 07777058
  • Bank Sort Code: 931136
  • IBAN: IE75AIBK93113607777058
  • BIC: AIBKIE2D

If paying by bank transfer please include your name on the reference line and email the office to let us know when you have paid. 

If you are in a position to donate during the retreat for food any any extra costs, these are always welcome.  If the cost of staying on site for this particular retreat is prohibitive, we will please God have four more retreats around the country before the end of this year where the whole event will donation only as usual.

If you would like to make a donation, separate to costs for this particular retreat, you can do so HERE.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

We are aware that Lough Derg can be difficult to get to and we would like to make it as accessible as possible. Therefore, volunteers would be happy to collect retreatants from Pettigo and take them to the boat.

Please see the options for public transport, there will be volunteers to meet you in Pettigo but please confirm when you get on the bus by contacting the Youth 2000 Office mobile 0838405552.
Belfast
Depart Grand Central Station Belfast at 3:20pm on Bus 261 to Enniskillen arriving 5:40pm and changing on to Bus 194D to Pettigo arriving at 6:50pm.
Anyone from Galway;
Depart outside Galway Cathedral at 1:30pm and travel to Sligo arriving at 3:35pm change bus on Markievicz Road and at 3:52pm take the 458 bus to Enniskillen arriving there at 5:08pm and taking the 5:40pm to Pettigo.
Anyone travelling from Derry;
Depart Foyle Street Bus Station at 1:50pm on bus 273, travel to Omagh arriving at 2:55pm change to bus 94 at 3:45pm to Enniskillen at 4:50pm and wait for the 5:40pm to Pettigo.
Anyone travelling from Dublin;(Saturday AM)
Depart Busaras at 8am Bus30 to Enniskillen, change on to Bus 194D to Pettigo at 11:45am.
No buses serve Pettigo or Kesh on Sunday, but volunteers will bring you to the next town where the buses start, please speak to us when you arrive so we can help you.

PRIESTS & RELIGIOUS

We are always so delighted to have so many wonderful priests and religious at our events! You are entirely welcome! Please click HERE for more information about your registration and attendance.

REMINDERS!

Everyone must check in at the registration desk on arrival, where you will be asked to present you photo ID.

If you are under 18 years of age, you MUST also remember to bring your signed parental consent form. Furthermore registration for U.18s will close strictly at 11am on the Friday morning of the retreat to allow us enough time to verify attendance and parental permission etc.

Registration remains open for O.18s throughout the weekend. Please note that on-site accommodation is not available for anyone outside of the age group 16-35 and anyone u.16 must be accompanied by an adult to attend. Please email us for more details.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please follow this link for more information on the terms & conditions you agree to upon registration. T & C’s

We are so looking forward to seeing you! Follow us on social media @youth2000ireland and sign up to our newsletter HERE to stay up to date with announcements about the retreat as they are released.