Welcome
The Dublin Diocese undertakes two pilgrimages to Lourdes each year. The pilgrimage in September is one of the biggest events in the Diocesan
calendar and is lead by the Archbishop.
Approximately 2,000 pilgrims travel to Lourdes from all over the Diocese. Of these, 180 are sick pilgrims staying at the Accueil Notre Dame which is ‘a place of welcome’ close to the Grotto with many of the facilities of a modern hospital. Another 550 of the pilgrims are voluntary helpers, made up of nurses and doctors, male and female helpers, known as handmaids and brancardiers, a team of chaplains and the Dublin Lourdes Choir. A further 200 young people assist as well in the care of the sick pilgrims and many of these are from secondary schools and colleges from around the Diocese. Parish Groups and individuals from every corner of the Diocese comprise the remainder of the Pilgrimage.
The Children’s Pilgrimage is a much smaller group, but a very important one, as it joins with thousands of other child pilgrims from all over the world each Easter Week. About forty children travel from Dublin assisted by the same number of helpers and a team of chaplains, doctors and nurses.
On this website you will be able to find out more about Lourdes and how you may be able to get more information on any section of our Diocesan Pilgrimage.
No other Diocesan event brings more people together each year and is a reflection of the great Irish tradition of devotion to Our Blessed Lady. In fact, the Irish have the largest presence in Lourdes, per head of population compared to any other nation.
If you need any further information please get in touch using the details on the Contact page.
Please watch the below video of RTÉ’s Nationwide programme filmed during the Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2014. Mary Kennedy travels to Lourdes to observe the Pilgrimage and speak to a variety of participants. This video gives a great idea of what life is like during our time in Lourdes each year.
