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.
The full retreat schedule will be available soon.
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.
There may also be suitable public bus connection for retreatants from different locations on the Friday including Galway to Sligo or Letterkenny and Derry with pick ups in Bundoran, Ballyshannon & Belleek. Please see google form below which should be completed by Monday 21st September at 3pm. This is to gather interest and if enough people are interested, a youth 2000 volunteer has offered to organise something to make it accessible. (N.B. this will include a fee for public transport and is not free like we offer for national retreats).
https://forms.gle/ZBAAfFpdG7AiaDsN6
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
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.