St. Brendan the Navigator

St. Brendan the Navigator (484-578) was born in Annagh, Co. Kerry. He is recognised by Roman Catholics as the patron saint of seafarers and travellers. St. Brendan was a priest who set up monasteries across Ireland; his most famous one was Clonfert monastery in Co. Galway. He is well known for his seafaring adventures and is believed to have made it to the shores of several countries including Scotland, Iceland and Greenland. He is also believed to have been the first European to set foot on American soil during his renowned seven year voyage. On this expedition, St. Brendan allegedly encountered an island called the ‘Isle of the Blessed’ or St. Brendan’s Island, which he set out to evangelise. However, while the island has never been identified in recent times, it did appear on maps during the time of Christopher Columbus.