Brendan the Navigator

Who they were

Brendan was born near Tralee in County Kerry in 484, baptised by Bishop Erc, taught for five years by St Ita and ordained priest by Erc in 512. He built monastic cells at Ardfert and at the foot of Brandon Hill, and from there set out on his famous seven-year voyage in search of the Land of Promise, with sixty companions.

Pilgrims and students flocked to him, and many religious houses grew up in Kerry. He founded the See of Ardfert and, in 557, the monastery of Clonfert, where he was buried. He died at Annaghdown in 577.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A monk-founder and voyager whose faith carried him across the sea.

Connected on this site

• Finnian of Clonard Saint Teacher
• Malo Saint Pupil
• Saint Gurval Saint Pupil
• Brandon of Man Saint
  “The parish of Braddan is said to be named after him, although there have been alternative suggestions that this parish is named after St Brendan the Navigator or after the Manx word for salmon.” — Wikipedia
• Brendan of Birr Saint
  “He is known as "Saint Brendan the Elder" to distinguish him from his contemporary and friend Brendan the Navigator of Clonfert.” — Wikipedia
• Cormac ua Liathain Saint
  “On the third occasion, Cormac along with three other Irish saints (St Cainnech, St Comgall and St Brendan the Navigator) came to visit Columba and found him on the island of Hinba.” — Wikipedia
• Íte of Killeedy Saint
  “She was foster-mother of many saints, among them St Brendan the Navigator.” — this site's research