ABOUT 2,000 PEOPLE, including patients, doctors, nurses, volunteers and secondary school students, departed Dublin Airport this morning, ready to take part in the annual Lourdes pilgrimage.

Seven planes took off as part of the country’s largest pilgrimage despite fears over recent flooding in the French region.

The Archodiocese of Dublin said it was taking 140 secondary schools students from 23 schools, as well as their teachers, on this trip – but huge demand meant not everyone on the waiting list was facilitated.

Prayers are to be offered up in both Dublin and Lourdes today for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Syria.

“Lourdes is such a peaceful, prayerful shrine,” said director Fr Martin Noone. “Our prayers, on the Vigil of her birth, will be to Our Lady Queen of Peace as we fervently hope that dialogue, peace and reconciliation will triumph in Syria over scenes of desperation and destruction.”

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will lead prayers for peace in Syria at St Bernadette’s Church in Lourdes, while at the same time, an evening service will be held at St Mary’s Pro Cathedral in Dublin with Bishop Eamonn Walsh.