This Friday, from 11am-2pm, Lough Derg is throwing a party, well proper tea and toast for its fourth annual Tea and Toast Morning, one of its most popular fund-raisers. Today (Wednesday) marks the end of the island's three-day pilgrimage and, come this Saturday, 18th August, the one-day retreats start.

These are open to adults (they are not suited to children) and those who are unable to make the traditional three-day pilgrimage are particularly welcome. The one-day retreats do not require fasting or walking bare-footed, but numbers are limited, so advance booking is essential.

Each retreat starts at 10am and ends at around 5pm, with boats running continuously from 9.15am until 10.15am. (The booking number is - 00353 71 986 1518).

Deborah Maxwell, the manager at Lough Derg, described this Friday's Tea and Toast Morning as an Open Day and the three-day season as very good.