Saint Brendan of Clonfert
St Brendan and the whale from a 15th century manuscript
Abbot
Born	c. 484, Ciarraighe Luachra near Tralee, County Kerry, Munster, Ireland
Died	c. Events By Place Europe December 28 — Alaric II succeeds Euric as king of the Visigoths. Fenit ( is a small Village in County Kerry, Ireland, located on north side of Tralee Bay about 10km west of Tralee town, just Tralee (Trá Lí (or Tráigh Lí is the county town of County Kerry, in the southwest corner of Ireland. County Kerry ( Contae Chiarraí in Irish) is a southwestern county of Ireland. Munster ( Irish: An Mhumhain, ənˈvuːnʲ Cúige Mumhan or Mumha) is the southernmost of the four Provinces of Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world 577, Anach Cuain (Annaghdown), County Galway, Connacht, Ireland
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion
Major shrine	Clonfert
Feast	May 16 (Roman Catholic Church), January 15 (Eastern Orthodox Church)
Attributes	Abbot; whale; priest celebrating Mass on board ship while fish gather to listen; one of a group of monks in a small boat[1]
Patronage	boatmen; mariners; sailors; travellers; whales; diocese of Clonfert; diocese of Kerry[2]
Saints Portal

Saint Brendan of Clonfert or Bréanainn of Clonfert (c. 484 – c. 577) called "the Navigator", "the Voyager", or "the Bold" is one of the early Irish monastic saints whose legends reflect their history. 500s;506 23 March - Death of St Mac Caírthinn Bishop of Clogher. Celtic Christianity, or Insular Christianity (sometimes called the Celtic Church or the British Church) broadly refers to the Early Medieval A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology He is chiefly renowned for his semi-legendary quest to the Isle of the Blessed. Paradise is a word of Persian origin ( Persian: پردیس Pardìs) that is generally identified with the Garden of Eden or with Heaven. The Voyage of St. Brendan could be called an immram (Irish voyage story). An Immram (plural Immrama; Modern Irish: iomramh) is one of a class of Old Irish tales concerning a hero's sea journey to the Otherworld He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. The Twelve Apostles of Ireland (also known as Twelve Apostles of Erin) were twelve early Irish monastic Saints of the Sixth century who studied ^[3]

Saint Brendan's feast day is celebrated on May 16 in the Roman Catholic Church and within the Anglican Communion, and on January 15 in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world

Early life

In 484 Saint Brendan was born in Ciarraighe Luachra near the port of Tralee, in County Kerry, in the province of Connacht, in the south west of Ireland. Fenit ( is a small Village in County Kerry, Ireland, located on north side of Tralee Bay about 10km west of Tralee town, just Tralee (Trá Lí (or Tráigh Lí is the county town of County Kerry, in the southwest corner of Ireland. County Kerry ( Contae Chiarraí in Irish) is a southwestern county of Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world ^[4] He was baptized at Tubrid, near Ardfert, by Saint Erc. Ardfert ( is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. It us an attractive and popular residential location within easy commuting Saint Erc (also known in Latin as Ercus; in Cornish as Erth; and incorrectly as Herygh) was an Irish Saint who For five years he was educated under Saint Ita, "the Brigid of Munster", and he completed his studies under Saint Erc, who ordained him priest in 512. Saint Ita, also known as Saint Ida or Saint Ides, (c 475 &ndash January 15, 570) was an Irish Nun. Saint Erc (also known in Latin as Ercus; in Cornish as Erth; and incorrectly as Herygh) was an Irish Saint who 500s;506 23 March - Death of St Mac Caírthinn Bishop of Clogher. Between the years 512 and 530 St Brendan built monastic cells at Ardfert, and, at the foot of Mount Brandon, Shanakeel— Seana Cill, usually translated as "the old church"— also called Baalynevinoorach. 500s;506 23 March - Death of St Mac Caírthinn Bishop of Clogher. 500s;506 23 March - Death of St Mac Caírthinn Bishop of Clogher. Mount Brandon or the Brandon Mountain ( Irish: Sliabh Bhreandáin or Cnoc Bréanainn) is a Mountain on the Dingle Peninsula It was from here that he set out on his famous seven years voyage for the Land of Delight. Paradise is a word of Persian origin ( Persian: پردیس Pardìs) that is generally identified with the Garden of Eden or with Heaven. The old Irish Calendars assigned a special feast for the "Egressio familiae S. Brendani", on March 22; and St Aengus the Culdee, in his Litany composed at the close of the eighth century, invokes "the sixty who accompanied St. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. The Culdee, Kuldee or Céli Dé (lit " vassals of God " formed a Monastic order with settlements in Ireland, Scotland Brendan in his quest for the Land of Promise".

Brendan discovering the Faroes and Iceland
Stamp sheet FR 252-253 of Postverk Føroya
Issued: 18 April 1994
Artist: Colin Harrison

Legendary journey

St Brendan is chiefly renowned for his legendary journey to The Isle of the Blessed (also called Tír na nÓg) as described in the ninth century Voyage of St Brendan the Navigator. Postverk Føroya ˈfœɹja}} is the postal service of the Faroe Islands and was founded on 1 April 1976 under the Home Rule of the Faroe Tír na nÓg ( Old Irish Tír na n-Oc) (tʲiɾʲ n̪ˠa n̪ˠog called in English the Land of Eternal Youth or the Land of the Ever-Young Many versions exist, that tell of how he set out onto the Atlantic Ocean with sixty pilgrims^[5] (other versions have fourteen, plus three unbelievers who join at the last minute), searching for the Americas. A pilgrim is one who undertakes a Pilgrimage, literally 'far afield' The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America If it happened, this would have occurred in around 512-530 AD, before his travel to the island of Great Britain. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands On his trip, Brendan is supposed to have seen a blessed island covered with vegetation. Situated somewhere west of Europe St Brendan’s Isle is a Phantom island often regarded as myth, since unless it is the so-called "Eighth Canary He also encountered a sea monster, an adventure he shared with his contemporary St. Sea monsters are sea-dwelling mythical or legendary creatures, often believed to be of immense size Columba. WikipediaPersondata --> See Columba (disambiguation and St Columb for other uses The most commonly illustrated adventure is his landing on an island which turns out to be a giant sea monster called Jasconius or Jascon. Jasconius is an enormous Fish in the story of Saint Brendan. Because of its size Brendan and his fellow voyagers mistake it for an island and land to make camp This too, has its parallels in other stories, not only in Irish mythology but in other traditions, from Sinbad the Sailor to Pinocchio. The Mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved shorn of its religious meanings Pinocchio (piˈnɔkːjo in Italian is a fictional character that first appeared in 1883, in The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, and

Early Dutch version

One of the earliest preserved written versions of the legend is in Dutch Des Reis van Sint Brandaen (Dutch for The Voyage of Saint Brendan), written in the 12th century. Folklore of the Low Countries, often just referred to as Dutch folklore, includes the epics Legends Fairy tales and oral traditions of the Scholars believe it derived from a now lost middle High German text combined with Celtic elements from Ireland and combines Christian and fairy tale elements. The High German languages (in German, Hochdeutsch) are any of the varieties of standard German, Luxembourgish and Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth A fairy tale or fairy story is a fictional Story that may feature folkloric characters (such as fairies, enchantments]] often involving Des Reis van Sint Brandaen describes "Brandaen," a monk from Galway, and his voyage around the world for nine years. The journey was begun as a punishment by an angel who had seen Brendan not to believe the truth of a book on the miracles of creation and saw Brandaen throw it into the fire. An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition The angel tells him that truth has been destroyed. On his journeys Brandaen encounters the wonders and horrors of the world, such as Judas frozen on one side and burning on the other, people with swine heads, dog legs and wolf teeth carrying bows and arrows, and an enormous fish that encircles the ship by holding its tail in its mouth. The English poem Life of Saint Brandan is a later English derivative of the Dutch version. Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname ^[6]

Effects

Naturally, the story of the seven years voyage was carried about, and soon crowds of pilgrims and students flocked to Ardfert. Thus, in a few years, many religious houses were formed - at Gallerus, Kilmalchedor, Brandon Hill, and the Blasket Islands - in order to meet the wants of those who came for spiritual guidance to Saint Brendan. The Blasket Islands ( Na Blascaodaí in Irish - etymology uncertain it may come from the Norse word "brasker" meaning "a dangerous place" Saint Brendan is the Patron Saint of sailors and travelers. At the United States Naval Academy in, Annapolis, Maryland, a large stained glass window commemorates Brendan's achievements. The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County. At Fenit Harbour, Tralee, a substantial bronze sculpture with a small horn has been erected to the memory of Brendan. Tralee (Trá Lí (or Tráigh Lí is the county town of County Kerry, in the southwest corner of Ireland.

Context

Sculpture of St. Brendan, The Square Bantry, County Cork

While it is generally assumed that the story is a religious allegory, there has been considerable ink spilled over the question of whether the legends are based on actual events, and whether the Isle of the Blessed that Brendan reached was actually America. Bantry (Beanntraí is a town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland, located on the N71 route at the head of Bantry Bay. There is a St. Brendan Society that celebrates the belief that Brendan was the first to discover America. Tim Severin demonstrated it is possible that a leather-clad boat such as the one described in the Navigatio could have potentially reached North America. Tim Severin (born 1940) is a British Explorer and Writer. He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India, and currently ^[7][8] Some have alleged that Christopher Columbus relied on the manuscript "Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis" that told of St. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer Brendan's travels across the Atlantic. ^[9] Some propose St Brendan as an ancient visitor to the Americas. Pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact describes alleged interactions between the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and peoples of other continents – Africa,

As a genre, The Voyage of St. Brendan (in Latin, the Navigatio Sancti Brendani) fits in with a then-popular form of literature, peculiar to Ireland, called an immram, that describes a hero's series of adventures in a boat. An Immram (plural Immrama; Modern Irish: iomramh) is one of a class of Old Irish tales concerning a hero's sea journey to the Otherworld For example, there appear to be similarities with The Voyage of Bran written much earlier. In the Navigatio, this style of storytelling meshed with a religious ascetic tradition where Irish monks would travel alone in boats, the same way their desert brothers used to isolate themselves in caves.

Further travels

Later, he travelled to Wales and the holy island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland; returning to Ireland, he founded a bishopric at Annaghdown, where he spent the rest of his days. Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland that has an important place in the history of Christianity in Scotland and is renowned for its tranquility Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Galway (Gaillimh is the only city in the province of Connacht in Ireland. Centuries later this diocese was merged into the Archdiocese of Tuam. The Archdiocese of Tuam ( Irish: Ard-Deoise an Tuaim) is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese in west Ireland. He was recognised as a saint by the Irish Church, and his feast day was celebrated on May 16. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Having established the bishopric of Ardfert, St Brendan proceeded to Thomond, and founded a monastery at Inis-da-druim (now Coney Island), in the present parish of Killadysert, County Clare, about the year 550. Ardfert ( is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. It us an attractive and popular residential location within easy commuting 500s;506 23 March - Death of St Mac Caírthinn Bishop of Clogher. He then journeyed to Wales, and thence to Iona, for he is said to have left traces of his apostolic zeal at Kil-brandon (near Oban) and Kil-brennan Sound. After a three years' mission in Britain he returned to Ireland, and did more proselytizing in various parts of Leinster, especially at Dysart (County Kilkenny), Killiney (Tubberboe), and Brandon Hill. County Kilkenny ( is a landlocked county in Ireland. The county takes its name from the city of Kilkenny and has a population of 87558 He established churches at Inchiquin, County Galway and at Inishglora, County Mayo. County Galway (Contae na Gaillimhe is located on the West Coast of Ireland.

Saint Brendan's most celebrated foundation was Clonfert Cathedral, in the year 563, over which he appointed St. Clonfert Cathedral is the historical seat of the Diocese of Clonfert, located in the village of Clonfert, County Galway. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Justinian I re-consecrates Hagia Sophia after its dome is rebuilt Moinenn as Prior and Head Master. St Brendan was interred in Clonfert.

Modern re-enactment

In 1976, Irish explorer Tim Severin built an ox leather curragh and over two summers sailed her from Ireland via the Hebrides, Faroe Islands and Iceland to Newfoundland to demonstrate that the saint's purported voyage was feasible. Events January 5 - Former Taoiseach, John A Costello, dies in Dublin aged 84 Tim Severin (born 1940) is a British Explorer and Writer. He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India, and currently Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process A Currach or Curach is a type of Boat with a wooden frame over which animal skins or hides were once stretched - nowadays canvas is more usual See also Hebrides (disambiguation The Hebrides (ˈhɛbrɨˌdiːz "HEB-ri-deez" Gaelic: Innse Gall) comprise a widespread and diverse The Faroe Islands or Faeroe Islands or simply Faroe(s or Faeroes (Føroyar meaning " Sheep Islands" Færøerne Old Norse Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Newfoundland — ˈn(jufənˌlænd (Terre-Neuve Talamh an Éisc — is a large island 15 km off the east coast of On his voyage, he encountered various sights such as icebergs and sea animals such as whales and porpoises which he suggests are factual counterparts to the fantastic sights from the legends of Brendan. An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater Ice that has broken off from a snow-formed Glacier or Ice shelf and is floating in open water See The Brendan Voyage, ISBN 0-349-10707-6.

Appearances in popular culture

• The Brendan Voyage is an orchestral suite for Uilleann pipes, written by Irish composer Shaun Davey in 1983 and based on Tim Severin's book of the same name. Shaun Davey (1948&ndash) is an Irish composer Early years Shaun Davey was born in Belfast in 1948 Tim Severin (born 1940) is a British Explorer and Writer. He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India, and currently

• Novelist Patricia Kennealy-Morrison features St. Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (b Patricia Kennely March 4 1946 Brooklyn) is an American Author of rock criticism an autobiography and Science fiction Brendan in her book "The Deers Cry", retelling his story with a science fiction twist.

• Novelist Frederick Buechner retold the story of Brendan's travels in his 1987 novel Brendan. Frederick Buechner (born July 11, 1926) full name Carl Frederick Buechner is a Presbyterian PCUSA minister and an American author

• The Celtic band Iona made an entire recording inspired by the voyage of Saint Brendan called Beyond These Shores, now available as part of the recording The River Flows. Celtic music is a term utilised by artists record companies music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of Musical genres that evolved out of the Folk Iona is the name of a progressive Celtic rock band from the United Kingdom, which was formed in the late 1980s by lead vocalist Joanne Hogg Beyond These Shores is a Progressive rock album by Iona. Released in 1993 The River Flows Anthology Vol 1 is a Progressive rock 4 CD album by Iona.

• Singer songwriter Sarana VerLin wrote an instrumental song titled "St. Sarana VerLin (born September 19, 1953) is a Violinist, a Singer-songwriter and Multi-instrumentalist. Brendan's Reel" that appears on several albums including "Amadon Crest".

• In the 2005 film Beowulf & Grendel, a travelling monk named Brendan the Celt sails to Denmark circa 521 A. Beowulf & Grendel is a 2005 film loosely based on the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. D.

• The cream liqueur "Saint Brendan's" is named after him. A cream liqueur (not be confused with Crème liqueur) is a Liqueur that includes Dairy cream among its ingredients

List of Places Associated with St. Brendan and their General Location

• Ardfert, County Kerry
• Fenit Island, Tralee Bay, County Kerry
• Brandon Creek on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry. Ardfert ( is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. It us an attractive and popular residential location within easy commuting County Kerry ( Contae Chiarraí in Irish) is a southwestern county of Ireland. Fenit Island is a populated island in on the coast of County Kerry, connected to the mainland by a sandbar Tralee Bay is located in on the west coast of County Kerry, Ireland. Brandon Creek is a village located at the Dingle Peninsula in the most westerly point of the island of Ireland. The Dingle Peninsula (Corca Dhuibhne - sometimes anglicized as Corkaguiney) is located in County Kerry and is the most Westerly point of
• Mount Brandon, County Kerry
• Brandon Hill, County Kilkenny
• Faroe Islands
• Bristol, Gloucestershire. Mount Brandon or the Brandon Mountain ( Irish: Sliabh Bhreandáin or Cnoc Bréanainn) is a Mountain on the Dingle Peninsula Brandon Hill ( is the highest mountain Kilkenny. County Kilkenny ( is a landlocked county in Ireland. The county takes its name from the city of Kilkenny and has a population of 87558 The Faroe Islands or Faeroe Islands or simply Faroe(s or Faeroes (Føroyar meaning " Sheep Islands" Færøerne Old Norse Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London History See also History of Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a historic county mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 10th century
• Iona Island, Scotland
• Gallarus Oratory, County Kerry
• Clonfert
• Killadysert, County Clare
• Dysart, County Kilkenny
• Killbrandon, near Oban, Scotland
• Kilbrennan Sound
• Killiney
• Inchiquin, County Galway
• Inishglora, County Mayo
• Hebrides
• Iceland
• Newfoundland
• Canary Islands
• Jan Mayen, which some claim he was the first person to sight

References

• Donnchadha, Gearóid Ó. St Brendan of Kerry, the Navigator. His Life & Voyages. OPEN AIR ISBN 1-85182-871-0
• Meijer, Reinder. Literature of the Low Countries: A Short History of Dutch Literature in the Netherlands and Belgium. New York: Twayne Publishers, Inc. , 1971.

Annandale, NSW, Australia.

Bibliography

See also

• List of people on stamps of Ireland
• Saint Amaro, a semi-legendary Spanish navigator and saint
• Timeline of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact
• St. Brendan's Island, a phantom island said to have been discovered by St. This is a list of people on the Postage stamps of the Irish Free State between 1922 and 1937 and on the postage stamps of Ireland since 1937, including According to Christian tradition, Saint Amaro or Amarus the Pilgrim ( San Amaro) was an Abbot and Sailor who sailed across the This is a Timeline of contacts between the Americas and the rest of the world. Situated somewhere west of Europe St Brendan’s Isle is a Phantom island often regarded as myth, since unless it is the so-called "Eighth Canary Phantom islands are Islands that were believed to exist and appeared on maps for a period of time (sometimes centuries during recorded history but were later removed after Brendan on his voyage

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Brendan
• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• Biography from "A Little Book of Celtic Saints:" Saint Brendan the Navigator
• "Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis" in (Latin)
• The Voyage of Beyond the Sea Simon Young writes about St Brendan's journey in Fortean Times
• Wall Street Journal: "Of Sainted Memory"
• Faroestamps.fo - Faroese stamp edition (English, German, French, Danish, Faroese)
• Brendan's Fabulous Voyage - 1893 lecture by John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, available from Project Gutenberg