Welcome to the Irish Association of Lourdes Hospitalités
The Irish Association of Lourdes Hospitalités (IALH) represents the lay leadership teams of the major Irish pilgrimages to Lourdes including dioceses, religious congregations, and others such as the Order of Malta and the Irish Association of Lourdes Volunteers.
A core leadership team, alongside the Director, oversees and coordinates the hundreds of volunteers involved, the pilgrimage Hospitalité.
The IALH’s primary purpose is to provide a platform for pilgrimage leaders to share experiences, improve practices, and make recommendations to Lourdes authorities, including the Sanctuaries’ Rector and Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes.
Additionally, IALH participates in the Federations’ initiative established by the Rector of Lourdes, which connects pilgrimage organisations across Europe, fostering collaboration, and addressing common challenges.
Looking across the River Gave towards the Rosary Basilica, that sits above the Grotto of Massabielle
2026 PILGRIMAGE
The 2026 pilgrimage season for Irish pilgrimages is now in full swing and now is the time to share your experience. What has worked well for you, if you’ve had some difficulties, what were they and how did you deal with them? What was there about your pilgrimage that would be useful to other pilgrimages to know?
Please consider writing up a report and sharing it – whether long or short, something you write and share may be an important nugget of information that is of value to another pilgrimage.
BATHS
This year, 2026, saw the full reopening of the baths for a full immersion since the closure brought about by Covid. The reports from Lourdes about this are very mixed. What was your experience? The system in 2026 is that the Baths are open for individuals (i.e., not Assisted Pilgrim groups) in the morning, with the afternoon being reserved for the Assisted Pilgrims groups that have made reservations. The latter get priority in the afternoon but of course, if there is capacity, individual pilgrms will be accepted. On Sunday, it is for individual pilgrims both morning and afternoon. Do you have anything to share about the reintroduction of the full immersion? Or what about the Geste de l’eau that is available at the Rotunda building near the lower Stations?
The Irish Association of Lourdes Hospitalités (IALH) is the national body in Ireland that brings together the lay leadership teams of the major Irish pilgrimages to Lourdes.
The History of Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The story of Bernadette Soubirous and the eighteen apparitions of Our Lady to her at the grotto of Massabielle in 1858 attracted believers from all parts of the world. Among these early pilgrims were the Irish, whose fervent devotion and dedication to their faith led to the establishment of the first organised, English-language pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1883. This pilgrimage, spearheaded by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition that continues to this day. Pilgrimage Hospitalités ensure the continuation of the tradition.
Pilgrimages to Lourdes in the modern day
Without the volunteers of the pilgrimage Hospitalités, who bring their many professional skills for the service of the sick, pilgrimage to Lourdes would not be possible.
Today’s pilgrimages to Lourdes from Ireland are a far cry from those early days. Pilgrimages now depart from airports in Dublin, Shannon, Cork, Belfast, and Knock, reflecting the widespread participation of Irish pilgrims. The logistics of organising these trips have become increasingly complex, with modern-day challenges such as busy airports, stringent security procedures, and the need to accommodate large groups of people, many of whom have mobility issues or health concerns.
The Role of Pilgrimage Hospitalités
The pilgrimage Hospitalités play a vital role in ensuring that these journeys run smoothly. Their responsibilities within the pilgrimage include assisting pilgrims with mobility challenges, providing medical care for those who are ill, and supporting elderly participants who may require additional help. The work of the Hospitalités is a testament to the spirit of service and compassion that underpins these pilgrimages, ensuring that every pilgrim can participate fully, regardless of their physical condition.
Continuing the Tradition
As the world changes, so too do the ways in which pilgrimages are organised and experienced. However, the core values of faith, service, and community that underpin the Irish pilgrimages to Lourdes remain constant. Lourdes is more than just a physical trip; it is first and foremost, a spiritual experience. The experience of visiting the sacred sites, participating in masses, and joining in communal prayers and processions can be deeply transformative. The IALH and the pilgrimage Hospitalités continue to play a crucial role in preserving and promoting this cherished tradition, ensuring that it can be enjoyed by future generations.
Looking to the Future
Pilgrimage to Lourdes is not without its challenges, both economic – the cost of pilgrimage – and managing compliance with the changing demands of airports and airlines. Nevertheless, the future of Irish pilgrimages to Lourdes looks bright, with ongoing efforts to make these journeys more accessible and inclusive for all participants. Innovations in travel and healthcare, combined with the continued commitment of the Irish Hospitalités to the values of faith and service, will ensure that this tradition remains a vibrant and meaningful part of the Irish Catholic experience for years to come.
Upcoming Events
IALH Annual Conference
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The Annual Conference of the IALH will take place in 2026 on November 8 at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone.
Our usual date, the first Sunday of November is All Saints Day in 2026 and so, for ths year, we have moved the date by one week.
Further details will be issued in due course!
NEWS
Launch of new OPAL Booking Platform system
The Sanctuaries has launched a new booking and reservation system, to be in operation for the 2026 season. f you are already registered on the existing platform, then you should have received an email inviting you to register and set up your profile on the new OPAL....
New Voitures Bleues!
No, not a mis-spelling! We’re all familiar with this means of transport in Lourdes. Indeed, it is synonymous with Lourdes, and it seems to appear in photographs and images of Lourdes no matter how far back we go. They’ve been known to be referred to as, “chariots”...
Change to Wheelchair Loan Policy at Accueil Notre Dame
Earlier this year, the Accueil Notre Dame (AND) issued a new policy that would apply to the loan of wheelchairs from AND. This is a very welcome service at AND and one that is used by very many Irish pilgrimages. However, the new policy that was introduced required a...
Mosaics on the front of the Rosary Basilica are covered
Many of you will be familiar with the controversery in recent years about the mosaics on the front of the Rosary Basilica in Lourdes. The mosaics by Rupnik and his art theology school, Centro Aletti in Rome, depict the luminous mysteries of the rosary, with the...
Update on latest developments at Accueil Notre Dame
The management at Accueil Notre Dame (AND) has issued a bulletin with news about a range of changes that are happening at AND this year and which will benefit all of our pilgrimages. These include physical changes, for example, in areas such as lighting improvements,...