Welcome: Parish Patrons

Brendan The Navigator

Also known as Brandan; Borodon

Memorial
16 May

Profile

Saint Brendan was born in Ciarraighe Luachra, near Tralee in County Kerry in the Year of Our Lord 484. It is said Bishop Erc baptized him at Tubrid, near Ardfert. Saint Ita supervised his earlier education, and he completed his later studies under St. Erc, who ordained him as a priest in 512.

Better known as Brendan the Navigator, his love of the sea could have developed from his growing up years in a coastal town in the south of Ireland. He was very much a leader of men and attracted many followers. He is associated with a number of monastic sites close to the River Shannon and around the West Coast of Ireland.

He started monastic communities in Ardfert, and at Shanakeel or Baalynevinoorach, at the foot of Brandon Hill. This work took place over a period of almost 30 years and it was from Baalynevinoorach that it is said he embarked on his most famous of journeys - "to the Land of Promise " or the seven-year voyage, accompanied by 60 other monks.

Brendan was a keen sailor as well as an avid missionary and his sea voyages brought him to Wales, Iona in Scotland as well as to France and other parts of mainland Europe.

He was instrumental in starting monasteries in Kilbrandon near Oban and Kilbrennan Sound, both in Scotland. After a three year mission in Britain he returned to Ireland, where he started to move further north from his home county of Kerry.

His fame as a missionary voyager soon spread and his monastery in Ardfert became a place of pilgrimage to hear his travelling tales. As a result, many religious houses were developed at Gallerus, Kilmalchedor, Brandon Hill, and the Blasquet Islands, in order to meet the needs of those students of the church and other visitors who came to him for spiritual guidance.

He established many of the diocesan centres in the south and west of our country. St. Brendan made his way to Thomond in Limerick and further north where he founded a monastery at Inis-da-druim about the year 550. This is more commonly known now as Coney Island, County Clare in the present parish of Killadysert.

In Leinster he was active in places such as Dysart in Co. Kilkenny, Killiney, and Brandon Hill. He founded the Sees of Ardfert and of Annaghdown, and established churches at Inchiquin, County Galway, and at Inishglora, County Mayo. His most celebrated foundation was Clonfert in County Galway. Saint Brendan died in 577 in the convent of his sister Briga at Enachduin, now Annaghdown. He is said to be interred in a grave facing the front door of the Cathedral in Clonfert.

Representation
Brendan and his brothers figure in Brendan's Voyage, a tale of monks travelling the high seas of the Atlantic, evangelizing to the islands, possibly reaching the Americas in the 6th century. At one point they stop on a small island, celebrate Easter Mass, light a fire - and then learn the island is an enormous whale! Priest celebrating Mass on board ship while fish gather to listen; a whale; or seen as one of a group of monks in a small boat.

Patronage
St. Brendan is the patron of one of our parish national Schools. He is obviously the patron of boatmen, mariners, sailors, travellers but also watermen, and unusually whales!


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		Brendan The Navigator Also known as Brandan; Borodon Memorial 16 May Profile Saint Brendan was born in Ciarraighe Luachra, near Tralee in County Kerry in the Year of Our Lord 484. It is said Bishop Erc baptized him at Tubrid, near Ardfert. Saint Ita supervised his earlier education, and he completed his later studies under St. Erc, who ordained him as a priest in 512. Better known as Brendan the Navigator, his love of the sea could have developed from his growing up years in a coastal town in the south of Ireland. He was very much a leader of men and attracted many followers. He is associated with a number of monastic sites close to the River Shannon and around the West Coast of Ireland. He started monastic communities in Ardfert, and at Shanakeel or Baalynevinoorach, at the foot of Brandon Hill. This work took place over a period of almost 30 years and it was from Baalynevinoorach that it is said he embarked on his most famous of journeys - "to the Land of Promise " or the seven-year voyage, accompanied by 60 other monks. Brendan was a keen sailor as well as an avid missionary and his sea voyages brought him to Wales, Iona in Scotland as well as to France and other parts of mainland Europe. He was instrumental in starting monasteries in Kilbrandon near Oban and Kilbrennan Sound, both in Scotland. After a three year mission in Britain he returned to Ireland, where he started to move further north from his home county of Kerry. His fame as a missionary voyager soon spread and his monastery in Ardfert became a place of pilgrimage to hear his travelling tales. As a result, many religious houses were developed at Gallerus, Kilmalchedor, Brandon Hill, and the Blasquet Islands, in order to meet the needs of those students of the church and other visitors who came to him for spiritual guidance. He established many of the diocesan centres in the south and west of our country. St. Brendan made his way to Thomond in Limerick and further north where he founded a monastery at Inis-da-druim about the year 550. This is more commonly known now as Coney Island, County Clare in the present parish of Killadysert. In Leinster he was active in places such as Dysart in Co. Kilkenny, Killiney, and Brandon Hill. He founded the Sees of Ardfert and of Annaghdown, and established churches at Inchiquin, County Galway, and at Inishglora, County Mayo. His most celebrated foundation was Clonfert in County Galway. Saint Brendan died in 577 in the convent of his sister Briga at Enachduin, now Annaghdown. He is said to be interred in a grave facing the front door of the Cathedral in Clonfert. Representation Brendan and his brothers figure in Brendan's Voyage, a tale of monks travelling the high seas of the Atlantic, evangelizing to the islands, possibly reaching the Americas in the 6th century. At one point they stop on a small island, celebrate Easter Mass, light a fire - and then learn the island is an enormous whale! Priest celebrating Mass on board ship while fish gather to listen; a whale; or seen as one of a group of monks in a small boat. Patronage St. Brendan is the patron of one of our parish national Schools. He is obviously the patron of boatmen, mariners, sailors, travellers but also watermen, and unusually whales!
Stations of the Cross
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