The Pilgrimage Trust was founded in England by Dr Michael Strode. The Irish Pilgrimage Trust was founded in Ireland in 19762 and nearly 50 years the Trust has been travelling on pilgrimage/holiday to Lourdes with young people with special needs from all over Ireland.
Our Lourdes Summer Pilgrimages to Hosanna House on the outskirts of Lourdes is a unique experience for Carer and Guest.
We have two super facilities in Kilcuan, Co. Galway and Cois Cuain, Co. Wexford each offering different opportunities. Both facilities provide Friendship weeks during the Summer.
The Easter Pilgrimage
The Irish Pilgrimage Trust brings children and young people with special needs on a week-long Pilgrimage Holiday to Lourdes each Easter. 500 young people with additional needs are invited as Guests. This trip is free for our Guests as our volunteers fundraise for it. Volunteers pay for their own trip. Our 46 groups comprise of 15 volunteer carers and 10 guests. Each group includes a Group Leader, Nurse, and Carers. Our team of volunteer Doctors provide additional medical support.
The groups share a wonderful fun filled week together that includes playing games in the park, day trips to the mountains, forest or the coast, fancy-dress parties, large masses full of music and colour, the candlelight procession and visits to the Grotto.
Summer Pilgrimage
Over the summer, Trust groups travel to Lourdes. They stay in Hosanna House, an attractive peaceful home from home with stunning views of the Pyrenees. This house can accommodate 2 groups of up to 50 people each.
The groups stay for seven days and make daily trips to Lourdes and other attractions in the surrounding area. The groups are served superb French cuisine prepared by the Hosanna House staff. Our wonderful volunteers care for people with additional need of all ages. Groups are supported by youth groups of transition year students who bring fun, colour, and youthful exuberance to the week.
Kilkcuan Holiday Home
Kilcuan is a purpose built, self-catering holiday home for people with special needs in Clarinbridge, Galway. Volunteers provide a program of week-long holidays called Friendship Weeks for young people with additional needs. These holidays include fun activities, music, excursions, entertainment and visits to local attractions.
Separately, Kilcuan is rented to groups, families and organisations caring for adults or young people with special needs on a self-catering basis.
Kilcuan is located in a beautiful woodlands area of Kilcornan beside Clarinbridge village. This woodland setting includes accessible walks, children’s playground, swimming pool, walled garden and is close to many local attractions including Galway City, Salthill, Kinvara, The Burren, Bunratty, Connemara.
The house has 15 fully accessible ensuite bedrooms with additional support facilities. It also has a commercial kitchen, large dining/activities room and a peaceful oratory.
Coise Cuain Holiday Home
Cois Cuain is our purpose built, self-catering holiday home in the sunny Southeast. Our volunteers provide a program of week-long holidays called Friendship Weeks for young people with additional needs. These holidays include fun activities, music, excursions, entertainment and visits to local attractions.
Separately, Cois Cuain is rented to groups, families and organisations caring for adults or young people with special needs on a self-catering basis.
Cois Cuain is about 1km from the village of Kilrane, a short distance from Rosslare Harbour and is next door to St Helen’s Golf club. There is a lovely beach a short walk from the house.
The house has 4 triple bedrooms (2 of which are upstairs), 2 twin rooms, and 1 single. 5 bedrooms are en-suite and there is a main bathroom downstairs. All the ground floor is fully accessible.
The house is on its own grounds and has a large enclosed back garden.
Cycle to Lourdes
The Irish Pilgrimage Trust organise a Cycle to Lourdes in France every two years. The event raises much needed funds to help the Trust finance its work in serving young people with additional needs.
Each Cyclist and Support Crew participant must register with The Irish Pilgrimage Trust and has to raise a minimum sponsorship of €3,000 for the Trust.
In addition, each participant has to pay a fare of €500 to cover their return flights, hotel accommodation and support for the week while in France. Participants automatically become members of the Trust’s exclusive La Brise Cycling Club.
The Cycle team is flown to northern France from where they begin their 800 kms journey south to the Midi-Pyrenees. They cycle for seven (7) consecutive days and arrive in Lourdes on Good Friday. The team returns to Ireland on Easter Sunday.
Cyclists enjoyed a challenging but memorable week cycling through the beautiful French countryside.
The next sponsored Cycle to Lourdes takes place in France in April 2022