Brendan

Brendan (* about 484 possibly in Annagh or in Fenit on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, near Tralee, † 577 at Annaghdown Abbey, County Galway; Latin: Brendanus ) was an Irish saint.

Life

Brendan was probably in the year 512 priests and founded numerous monasteries. The various accounts of his life are almost all legendary. The only secure date is the foundation of the monastery of Clonfert ( in County Galway) to 560 He is the Bishop of Ardfert " Erth of Cornwall " (also called Erc ) in the Aries source ( Tobar na Molt ) have been baptized.

He is known by the Navigatio Sancti Brendani, a very popular and widespread in the Middle Ages report on a sea voyage, he should have done 565-573 with twelve companions. The goal of this journey, which was undertaken with a Curragh, was the " Terra Repromissionis sanctorum ," a promised island to the west. Towards this Brendaninsel, as listed in several medieval maps, he witnessed all kinds of adventures, one of which is the best known, the confusion of the fish Jasconius with an island.

The description of his journey led to the 18th century expeditions to search for Brendan's Island. Since the 19th century, was also trying to adapt the descriptions of the various islands to real islands in the Atlantic. The guesses range from the Canary Islands to Iceland to America, but can be assigned conclusively in either case, what probably never will be possible in view of the mythical- religious character of the travel Description: The Navigatio Sancti Brendani is a Christianized ized Immram, a stipulated island Celtic narrative type that describes the journey to the Otherworld.

1976 Timothy Severin, however, could actually sail with a Curragh to America, suggesting that a discovery of America at this time was at least possible.

Brandan is the patron saint of sailors.