St Brendan

Historical Context Essay

Glyn Burgess (University of Liverpool)

Ed. by Hugh Magennis, Queen's University Belfast
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.4: Irish Writing and Culture, 400-present.
Vol. editors: Paul Delaney (Trinity College Dublin), Anne Markey (Dublin City University), Ian Campbell Ross (Trinity College Dublin), Sinéad Sturgeon (Queen's University Belfast)

Domains

Catholic

Dates

Date of occurrence c.486- c.575

Places

Ireland, Republic of (Eire) (Location)

Resources

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St Brendan (Irish Brénaind / Brénainn; Latin Brandanus / Brendanus) was born in County Kerry around 486 AD; it is thought that he died in 575 AD. He is known for his numerous ecclesiastical foundations, from one of which he acquired the name Brendan of Clonfert. He is also famous for the sea-voyages he seems to have undertaken, from which derives the alternative name Brendan the Navigator. The extent of these voyages remains unclear, but he certainly visited St Columba on the island of Hinba in Scotland and he is said to have visited St Gildas in Wales. He may well have travelled to Brittany, where some place names and church dedications reflect his popularity. It is as a seafarer that he is now best known, for the Latin tale entitled the

Navigatio sancti Brendani

(

Voyage of St Brendan

…

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2392 words

Citation: Burgess, Glyn. "St Brendan". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 December 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1358, accessed 25 April 2024.]

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