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Bobby interrogates Jenny about her motivations

As they drive towards Lough Derg, Bobby interrogates Jenny as to her motivations for wishing to visit Lough Derg this year of all years. She responds that it is a particularly Irish form of religious devotion and expression.

car journey, European pilgrim sites, Fatima, Irish identity, Lisieux, literature, Lourdes, motivation, pilgrimage, religiosity, Sean O'Faolain, short stories, twentieth century

Jenny asks Bobby to go to Lough Derg

The story opens as Jenny asks to visit Patrick's purgatory, to the confusion of her male companion Bobby

attitudes, car journey, confusion, first impressions, literature, Lough Derg on the Shannon, Lovers of the Lake, religiosity, Sean O'Faolain, short stories, twentieth century

Jenny completes the stations

As Jenny completes the stations at the penitential beds, she reflects on the power of repetition and prayer and feels the elements

embodied experience, emotion, literature, penitential beds, physical discomfort, place, repetition, Sean O'Faolain, setting, short stories, stations, twentieth century, water

Jenny crosses to Station Island

Jenny gets a sensory impression of the island as she approaches and encounters its contents and topography

barefoot, boating, building, impressions, literature, penitential beds, pilgrims crossing, Sean O'Faolain, short stories, Station Island, twentieth century, weather, wetness

Jenny struggles with her emotions

Jenny struggles with her sense of spirituality as she completes the circuits of the penitentian beds

Lough Derg in the rain

Jenny and Bobby arrive at Lough Derg in the rain and are greeted by the sight of the lake and the pilgrims waiting to cross

boating, cattle, doubt, impressions, Irish identity, literature, negative description, pilgrim crossing, rain, Sean O'Faolain, short stories, St. Patrick, twentieth century, weather

The barriers of self

As they drive away from Lough Derg in silence, Jenny reflects on her experience

car journey, departure, identity, literature, revelations, Sean O'Faolain, short stories, subjectivity, twentieth century

The impression of Lough Derg on Jenny and Bobby

Jenny discusses her expectations of the place compared to the reality and hopes that it will not be too commercialized, like Lourdes

colour, commercialism, foam, greyness, impressions, literature, motion, negative description, Sean O'Faolain, short stories, twentieth century, water, waves, weather

The Island's gift

Jenny awakes to feel the gift of Station Island: a sense of equality in bodily experience

austerity, embodied experience, emotion, literature, pilgrimage, remoteness, revelation, Sean O'Faolain, short stories, sleep, timelessness, twentieth century, women's dormitory

Boat keel on Station Island

Remains of a boat keel found propped up against a wall on Station Island

boating, keel, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, Robert French, Station Island, tradition, William Lawrence

Cardinal Michael Logue arrives at Station Island, 1913

The Cardinal's delegation are ready to disembark at the Station Island pier

boating, Cardinal Michael Logue, landing, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, official visit, Photographs, Robert French, Station Island, William Lawrence

Cardinal Michael Logue boards a boat at the Station Island ferry house, 1913

The Cardinal's delegation board a boat to Station Island, surrounded by crowd

boating, Cardinal Michael Logue, ferry house, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, pilgrim crossing, Robert French, Station Island, William Lawrence

Ferry boat house, Station Island

View of the nineteenth-century ferry boat house to Station Island

boating, ferry house, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, pilgrim crossing, Robert French, Station Island, William Lawrence

Pilgrims board their boats south-east of Station Island

Two boats of pilgrims pose for a photograph south-east of Station Island, with Station and Friar's island in background

boating, Friars' Island, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, pilgrim crossing, pilgrimage, Robert French, Station Island, vista, William Lawrence

Pilgrims setting out from Pettigo

Several carriages and traps departing Pettigo for Lough Derg

carriage, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Pettigo, Photographs, pilgrimage, Robert French, Station Island, transport, William Lawrence

Station Island boat leaving

A pilgrim boat leaving the shore, pilgrims boarding another crowded boat, and a crowd on shore

boating, ferry house, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, pilgrim crossing, queue, Robert French, Station Island, William Lawrence

Station Island Boiler

Pot used to boil water to sustain pilgrims on pilgrimage

boiling water, cauldron, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, pilgrimage, refreshment, Robert French, Station Island, tradition, William Lawrence

View of Station Island from east shore

View across lake from east including Friars' and Station Islands, including rock formations and shore

east shore, Friars' Island, islands, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, Robert French, Station Island, vista, William Lawrence

View of Station Island with boats and Friars' Island

View from shore of the lake and Station Island in the distance with Friars' Island and boats

boating, Friars' Island, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, reflection, Robert French, Station Island, vista, water, William Lawrence

A rower and Station Island with detail of rocks and water

View of Station Island with rower in foreground, detail of water and shore

boating, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, pilgrim, Robert French, rower, Station Island, vista, water, William Lawrence

Boarding a pilgrim boat

A crowd boarding their boat at the ferry house

Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, Robert French, Station Island, William Lawrence

Ferry house and view of Station Island

View of the lake and Station Island from the ferry house

boating, ferry house, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, Robert French, Station Island, William Lawrence

Friars' Island detail

Inset view of Friars' Island, Lough Derg

Friars' Island, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, Robert French, Station Island, William Lawrence

Penitential beds and view of lake

View of waters past Sanctuary and penitential beds

Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, penitential beds, Photographs, pilgrims, Robert French, Station Island, vista, water, water station, William Lawrence

Pilgrims at the stations

View of pilgrims on penitential beds and performing water station

immersion, Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland, nineteenth century, Photographs, pilgrimage, Robert French, Station Island, water, water station, William Lawrence