Saint Brendan - The Navigator

Saint Brendan was born near Fenit in 484. He travelled extensively and founded several monasteries. Many places are named after him: places in Ireland, England, Scotland, the Faeroes and Brittany. There is compelling evidence to suggest that he visited Greenland; Iceland; Newfoundland and other places in North America; the Bahamas and other Caribbean Islands; the Azores and the Canary Islands.

In the middle-ages, a book was written about his voyages; Navagatio Sancti Brendani - describing his voyages. This became, what would be today, a bestseller and was translated into many languages. It described scenes of what can only be interpreted as volcanoes and icebergs. It was instrumental in influencing Christopher Columbus to set out for America.

The traditional craft used in this period was made with leather over a wooden frame. Tim Severn, the modern-day explorer, studied up on St. Brendan and crossed the Atlantic in a replica boat. This boat is on display at Craggaunowen, a historical interpretative centre, near the village of Quinn in Co. Clare.

Saint Brendan is buried, in the monastery which he founded, at Clonfert, a small village in south east of County Galway near Shannonbridge.

Saint Brendan is the Patron Saint of the Navy of the United States of America.

To mark the achievements of this much undervalued historical figure, a 5 metre high bronze monument was erected at the top of the Great Samphire Rock in Fenit Harbour.