In 1858, in a cave situated below the town of Lourdes in the south of France, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared, in person, on eighteen occasions to Bernadette Soubirous, a very poor 14-year-old girl from Lourdes. The first apparition took place on 11th February and the last took place on 16th July.

In 2008, Lourdes will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions.

Each year, 6 million people from every continent, travel to Lourdes. Their primary purpose is to visit the Grotto of the Apparitions, the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary and Bernadette spoke with each other. They go to pray, to find peace, looking to be healed or simply to enjoy the special atmosphere that exists nowhere in the world as in Lourdes.

I had my first job in the travel business back in 1979 and my first "freebie" was a trip for two to Lourdes. I called a friend and explained that this was on offer and we decided to go. I really enjoyed my five-day experience there, although no one could have called me a "holy Joe".

I was nineteen and out to have a good time. I had tolerated eczema all over my body from the age of six weeks. My parents had tried every cure; doctor, faith healer and any other possible solution over the years and nothing had worked. I had become so used to it that when I went to Lourdes I really did not make a big issue about hoping for a cure. I knew when I had washed in the waters of Lourdes that something had happened although I was afraid that it was all in my imagination so I said nothing. However four months later the eczema had gone from my body completely and has never returned.

I have returned a total of 31 times to Lourdes, leading groups and sometimes just going on my own to thank God for my little miracle. You don't have to be Catholic to go to Lourdes. You don't even have to believe in anything much. It is open to everyone and in the Diocese of Raphoe people of all religious persuasions joins the pilgrimage every year.

Normally approximately four hundred people travel out on the Diocesan Pilgrimage; however this year nearly 500 people will depart Belfast on May 22 on what will be one of the biggest pilgrimages ever to leave this Diocese. There are people on a waiting list to join the pilgrimage if others cancel and at a time when the Church comes in for so much criticism and so many are not practicing their faith, Lourdes is more popular than ever.

Next year is going to be a huge year for Lourdes and I can only imagine the number of people who will want to travel to Lourdes in 2008. Already people want to put their names down so as not to be disappointed, and having not visited Lourdes for the last six years I am certainly looking forward to going back.

One of the things that I really like about Lourdes is that you are not expected to take part in every organised event, and you can be as solitary and quiet as you want and simply do your own type of pilgrimage to suit your needs. If all you want is to recharge your ?spiritual batteries? take time out to reflect on your life or simply spend some time in peaceful quiet, Lourdes is a fabulous place to visit. There is nowhere more peaceful in the world!

Deirdre Grant is proprietor of Driftaway Travel, Port Road, Letterkenny.