st brendan's voyage map

The Brendan Voyage

• Post author By Simon King
• Post date July 24, 2020

You could say that Tim Severin is a historical re-enactor, but that would conjure all the wrong images, of renaissance fairs and Colonial Williamsburg. At nearly 80 years old, his accomplishments are better described as experiential archaeology , recreating legendary journeys to prove they could have happened. His historical adventures are based on years of upfront study, working with scholars to decipher ancient texts and find period-appropriate technology and materials. I only recently learned about Severin’s work, through his 1978 book that documents a fascinating early project called The Brendan Voyage .

In the 6th-century, an Irish monk named St. Brendan wrote the Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis (The Voyage of St. Brendan the Abbot), a document describing a westward sea journey to the “promised land” that some believe was North America. The journey included numerous stops at islands along the way, and he described seeing fantastic sights and creatures from aboard his medieval “skin boat.” Although some scholars interpret the monk’s manuscript figuratively, others subscribe to the belief that it is more travelogue than fable. That question is at the heart of The Brendan Voyage , Severin’s project to recreate St. Brendan’s journey and prove that a leather-clad sailboat could successfully traverse the North Atlantic.

“Of course, if the claim was true, then Saint Brendan would have reached America almost a thousand years before Columbus and four hundred years before the Vikings.” The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin, Chapter 1

Severin’s first task, which took years of hard work, was the creation of a boat that would match the one used by St. Brendan. In The Brendan Voyage he describes a process of researching, learning, and collaborating with various experts. The energy surrounding the project is contagious, and propelled by what he calls “Brendan Luck” that seems to grace him throughout the project.

The traditional Irish curragh , which is still in use today on the west coast of Ireland, is a descendent of the boat that St. Brendan would have sailed. In modern times, canvas is stretched over the wooden frame, but the Navigatio describes a boat covered with oxhide. This was the first materials challenge for Severin, and initial tests showed that leather would deteriorate quickly in sea water.

Luckily the text provides additional clues, describing the leather as “tanned in oak bark” and coated in “grease” to make it water proof. After numerous lab studies it was proven that, indeed, oak bark was the best leather treatment. Severin found a single tannery in Britain that could help, run by the Croggon family in the Cornish town of Grampound. They had been using traditional tanning techniques since they opened in 1711, and as Brendan Luck would have it, they were enthusiastic about the project.

“So began a delightful period of work. The British leather industry took the Brendan project to heart, and what splendid people the leathermakers turned out to be.” The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin, Chapter 2

The manuscript describes applying “grease” to the leather, and even mentions bringing extra grease on the journey for re-application. These kinds of details further convinced Severin that he was reading the documentation of a real trip. It’s easy to determine that this must have been lanolin or “wool grease,” a wax that secreted by sheep. Severin and his crew applied it liberally to the oak bark leather and described the resulting stench as nearly unbearable.

“I wonder if you could supply me with some wool grease.” “Yes, of course. How much do you want?” “About three-quarters of a ton, please.” There was stunned silence. The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin, Chapter 2

The remaining challenges of building Brenden , a 36-foot medieval boat were numerous and back breaking. Just the right cuts of oak and ash were found to build the mast and hull—apparently the north side of the tree is the strongest. Joints were lashed together with miles of leather stripping, and 49 overlapping ox hides were stitched together with flax cords. Brendan Luck struck again when Severin learned that John O’Connell, a master harness maker, lived nearby where the boat was being built. He joined the project and taught Severin and a team of volunteers how to stitch the thick leather. Once on the ocean their lives would depend on the quality of every stitch and knot, a reality that hung heavy over the slow and strenuous work.

For more detail on the boat’s construction I suggest checking out the article Across the Atlantic in a Leather Boat , which includes relevant excepts from the book and broader information on traditional skin boats in other parts of the world.

The Journey

On May 17, 1976 Brenden set sail from Brandon Creek (named after an alternate spelling of the monk’s name) in County Kerry, Ireland. Every step of the voyage is detailed wonderfully in the book, including photographs from aboard the boat. Even though I knew they would make it, the vivid description of life aboard the boat was both nail biting and riveting.

The route, as with the boat’s construction, was an attempt to recreate the original journey as much as possible. Brendan followed a “stepping stone” path along the western coast of Ireland, and into the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The first long stretch at sea was from Stornoway to the Faroe Islands, and in-between the crew was delighted by continual visits from pods of curious whales.

The Faroes are a potential match for two of the islands mentioned in the Navigatio : “The Island of Sheep” and “The Paradise of Birds.” As they approached the islands from the west, a storm in the Mykines Sound nearly forced Brendan to sail onward without landing, but they managed to maneuver north around Streymoy and land safely in the harbor at Tjørnuvík.

“More than any other people I had ever met, the Faroese understood the sea and showed their appreciation of the endeavor, and once again it was easy to detect the common bond which linked all seafarers in those hostile, northern waters.” The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin, Chapter 7

Throughout the journey, there were a few points where it became necessary for crew members to leave the project, because of injury or circumstance, and thus new people were needed to join. On the Faroe Islands, Brendan Luck would have it, that Tim Severin met Tróndur Patterson.

Today, Tróndur Patterson is a well known artist in the Faroe Islands. He’s celebrated for his paintings, sculptures, and glass art that are inspired by life at sea. Severin described meeting Tróndur as an almost fateful occurrence, beginning with an invitation to his home in Kirkjubøur where he realized that the village had a historical place name related to St. Brendan.

“What is the name of the village?” I asked. “Kirkjubo,” she replied. “Does it have any other name?” “Yes, sometimes this place is called Brandarsvik.” The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin, Chapter 7

Tróndur was quieter than the other crew members, but he brought a Faroese confidence to life at sea. He was adept at catching seabirds using whale blubber, and had tricks for staying warm in soaking wet clothes. He also had a sixth sense for a how to respond in stormy weather, which proved invaluable during the latter half of the trip. His spare time at sea was spent drawing, and the book is filled with his illustrations.

Not only was Patursson a vital crew member on Brendan , the fateful meeting kicked off a longer collaboration with Severin. Just two years after The Brendan Voyage was complete they were reunited aboard another ancient vessel to attempt The Sindbad Voyage .

From the Faroe Islands the crew sailed to Iceland, which St. Brendan called the “Island of Smiths” in an apparent description of a volcanic eruption. After bringing the boat ashore in Reykjavík, it was clear that Brendan had fared well. The leather hull was coated in barnacles, but without a single tear or hole. Still, after weeks of waiting for favorable weather, it was determined that the sea between Iceland and Greenland was simply too rough to continue; sailing season was over. They decided to wait until the following spring and docked Brendan in Iceland for the winter.

It had always been a good guess that the last leg of the trip would be the hardest, since the waters around Greenland and Labrador are sparsely inhabited and treacherous. That turned out to be true for Brendan , which nearly capsized in stormy weather and suffered damage to her leather hull while navigating through icebergs. It was touch and go at times, but of course, in the end, they were successful. On June 26, 1977 the voyage was completed by landing on Peckford Island, Newfoundland. In the documentary , which includes film from land-based crews as well as onboard footage, we see excited crowds awaiting the boat’s arrival and an impromptu parade celebrating the sailors’ accomplishment.

A successful voyage of course doesn’t prove that Irish monks came to North America a thousand years before Columbus, but it does show that they could have using the technology available to them. I find The Brendan Voyage fascinating for both its historical significance and the way it transpires across so many of my favorite islands. I’m also impressed by how well documented it was, the detail of the book and accompanying film. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard about this adventure before, given that it concluded a full year before I was born. I guess I should consider it Brendan Luck that it finally crossed my path.

I’d suggest getting a physical copy of the The Brendan Voyage book , perhaps seeking out the original 1978 hardcover to ensure it has all of the photographs, maps, and illustrations by Tróndur Patursson.

Whether you read it or not, I highly recommend watching the documentary, which is available on YouTube in two parts and is just under an hour in total.

Finally, you might be interested in this Story Map about The Brendan Voyage , which includes accurate Google Maps showing the route across the North Atlantic.

• Tags boat , faroe islands , greenland , history , iceland , ireland , newfoundland , scotland

St. Brendan the Navigator: The Voyage of the Saint and the Search for the Promised Land

St. Brendan the Navigator, also known as Brendan of Clonfert, is one of the most intriguing figures in the annals of Irish Christianity. Celebrated as a daring seafarer and explorer, he is best known for his legendary voyage in search of the “Promised Land of the Saints.” This article delves into the life of St. Brendan, the tales of his voyages, and the enduring legacy of this adventurous saint.

Early Life and Spiritual Formation

St. Brendan was born around 484 AD in County Kerry, Ireland. He was baptized by St. Erc, a bishop who recognized Brendan’s spiritual potential and provided him with his early education. Brendan was then sent to a monastery school for further education, where he was ordained a priest at the age of 26.

Founding Monasteries

St. Brendan is noted for founding numerous monastic settlements across Ireland. The most famous of these is Clonfert in County Galway, established around 557 AD. These monasteries served as important centers of learning, echoing the Celtic tradition of combining Christian faith with holistic education.

The Voyage of St. Brendan

St. Brendan’s most famous contribution to Irish religious folklore is his legendary voyage across the Atlantic. According to “Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis” (The Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot), Brendan was inspired by the story of St. Barinthus, who claimed to have discovered a land of abundance, which Brendan understood to be the “Promised Land of the Saints.”

Intrigued and driven by spiritual curiosity, Brendan decided to undertake a voyage to discover this Promised Land. He reportedly built a curragh, a type of Irish boat with a wooden frame covered in animal hides, and set sail with a group of fellow monks.

Encounters and Miracles

The tales of Brendan’s voyage, which reportedly lasted seven years, are filled with fantastical elements. His journey, as depicted in the Navigatio, included encounters with enormous sea creatures, a floating crystal pillar, an island that turned out to be a sea monster, and a mysterious island inhabited by a hermit.

One of the most captivating stories from Brendan’s voyage is the Easter celebration on the back of a whale. According to the tale, Brendan and his crew, unable to find land during Easter, landed on a small island to hold Mass. As they concluded the service, the island began to move and they realized they had been on the back of a giant sea creature, presumably a whale.

The Land of Promise

The climax of St. Brendan’s voyage was the discovery of the Land of Promise. This land, as described in the Navigatio, was a paradise filled with lush vegetation, abundant flowers, and rich fruits. After spending forty days exploring this land, an angel appeared to Brendan and told him to return to Ireland. The angel informed Brendan that the Land of Promise would remain hidden until the end of time.

Return to Ireland

Following his epic voyage, St. Brendan returned to Ireland where he continued his ecclesiastical work. His accounts of the voyage spread far and wide, inspiring numerous manuscripts and adaptations.

Death and Sainthood

St. Brendan died in 577 AD at the monastery of Annaghdown while visiting his sister Briga. He was buried in Clonfert, and his tomb soon became a pilgrimage site. Although there are no records of his formal canonization, his sainthood was widely recognized by local Christian communities, and he was venerated as the patron saint of sailors and travelers.

Impact and Influence of the Voyage

St. Brendan’s legendary journey ignited the imagination of many explorers in the centuries that followed. The detailed descriptions of his voyage were used as a navigational guide in the Middle Ages, inspiring a belief in a land beyond the known world.

The belief in St. Brendan’s Island, an island supposedly discovered by Brendan during his voyage, persisted on maps until the 19th century. Some have even proposed that Brendan reached the Americas long before Columbus, although this theory is a subject of ongoing debate.

St. Brendan in Art and Literature

The tales of St. Brendan’s voyage have had a lasting influence on art and literature. He has often been depicted in a boat or holding an oar, symbolizing his seafaring adventures. In literature, his voyage has been the subject of numerous adaptations, including novels, poems, and plays.

One of the most famous literary works based on Brendan’s journey is the Latin poem “Navigatio Sancti Brendani,” which dates back to at least the 9th century. This poem has been translated into many languages and has inspired countless retellings.

Modern Celebrations and Veneration

St. Brendan’s feast day is celebrated on May 16th, and he is venerated as the patron saint of sailors, mariners, and travelers. In many coastal communities in Ireland and elsewhere, St. Brendan’s Day is marked with processions and special church services. In addition, many seafaring traditions and customs are associated with St. Brendan, highlighting his enduring influence on maritime culture.

St. Brendan’s Legacy

While the historical accuracy of St. Brendan’s voyage is a subject of debate, its influence on Christian tradition and folklore is undeniable. The stories of his journey continue to captivate the imagination, symbolizing the human quest for spiritual discovery and exploration.

St. Brendan’s life and journey embody the spirit of adventure inherent in the Christian quest for spiritual truth. His voyage represents the journey of the soul towards the divine, navigating through the unknown in search of the Promised Land.

St. Brendan and the Christian Imagination

The tale of St. Brendan’s voyage continues to hold a unique place in the Christian imagination. It combines elements of adventure, faith, and the miraculous, providing a rich narrative that has been retold and reimagined across the centuries.

From a broader perspective, St. Brendan’s voyage can be viewed as a metaphor for the Christian journey through life. Just as Brendan navigated through uncharted waters, facing both peril and wonder, so too does the Christian navigate through the trials and joys of life, guided by faith towards the ultimate Promised Land.

St. Brendan and Irish Cultural Identity

St. Brendan is not only a significant figure in Christian history, but he also holds a special place in Irish cultural identity. His story ties together elements of monastic spirituality, a deep connection with nature, and a spirit of exploration and adventure. As such, St. Brendan embodies many of the qualities and values that are central to Irish cultural identity.

In conclusion, St. Brendan the Navigator remains one of the most fascinating figures in Irish Christian history. His legendary voyage continues to inspire, reminding us of the power of faith, the allure of the unknown, and the limitless possibilities of the human spirit.

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St. Brendan's Voyage

The deaths of several Irish saints, whose lives are of more than ordinary interest, are recorded about this period. Amongst them, St. Brendan of Clonfert demands more than a passing notice. His early youth was passed under the care of St. Ita, a lady of the princely family of the Desii. By divine command she established the Convent of Cluain Credhuil , in the present county of Limerick, and there, it would appear, she devoted herself specially to the care of youth. When Brendan had attained his fifth year, he was placed under the protection of Bishop Ercus, from whom he received such instruction as befitted his advancing years. But Brendan's tenderest affection clung to the gentle nurse of his infancy; and to her, in after years, he frequently returned, to give or receive counsel and sympathy.

The legend of his western voyage, if not the most important, is at least the most interesting part of his history. Kerry was the native home of the enterprising saint; and as he stood on its bold and beautiful shores, his naturally contemplative mind was led to inquire what boundaries chained that vast ocean, whose grand waters rolled in mighty waves beneath his feet. His thoughtful piety suggested that where there might be a country there might be life—human life and human souls dying day by day, and hour by hour, and knowing of no other existence than that which at best is full of sadness and decay.

Traditions of a far-away land had long existed on the western coast of ancient Erinn. The brave Tuatha Dé Dananns were singularly expert in naval affairs, and their descendants were by no means unwilling to impart information to the saint.

The venerable St. Enda, the first Abbot of Arran, was then living, and thither St. Brendan journeyed for counsel. Probably he was encouraged in his design by the holy abbot; for he proceeded along the coast of Mayo, inquiring as he went for traditions of the western continent. On his return to Kerry, he decided to set out on the important expedition. St. Brendan's Hill still bears his name; and from the bay at the foot of this lofty eminence he sailed for the "far west." Directing his course towards the south-west, with a few faithful companions, in a well-provisioned bark, he came, after some rough and dangerous navigation, to calm seas, where, without aid of oar or sail, he was borne along for many weeks. It is probable that he had entered the great Gulf Stream, which brought his vessel ashore somewhere on the Virginian coasts. He landed with his companions, and penetrated into the interior, until he came to a large river flowing from east to west , supposed to be that now known as the Ohio. Here, according to the legend, he was accosted by a man of venerable bearing, who told him that he had gone far enough; that further discoveries were reserved for other men, who would in due time come and christianize that pleasant land.

After an absence of seven years, the saint returned once more to Ireland, and lived not only to tell of the marvels he had seen, but even to found a college of three thousand monks at Clonfert. This voyage took place in the year 545, according to Colgan; but as St. Brendan must have been at that time at least sixty years old, an earlier date has been suggested as more probable. [8]

The northern and southern Hy-Nials had long held rule in Ireland; but while the northern tribe were ever distinguished, not only for their valour, but for their chivalry in field or court, the southern race fell daily lower in the estimation of their countrymen. Their disgrace was completed when two kings, who ruled Erinn jointly, were treacherously slain by Conall Guthvin. For this crime the family were excluded from regal honours for several generations.

Home dissensions led to fatal appeals for foreign aid, and this frequently from the oppressing party. Thus, Congal Caech, who killed the reigning sovereign in 623, fled to Britain, and after remaining there nine years, returned with foreign troops, by whose assistance he hoped to attain the honours unlawfully coveted. The famous battle of Magh-Rath, [9] in which the auxiliaries were utterly routed, and the false Congal slain, unfortunately did not deter his countrymen from again and again attempting the same suicidal course.

[8] Probable .—The legend of St. Brendan was widely diffused in the Middle Ages. In the Bibliothéque Impériale , at Paris, there are no less than eleven MSS. of the original Latin legend, the dates of which vary from the eleventh to the fourteenth century. In the old French and Romance dialects there are abundant copies in most public libraries in France; while versions in Irish, Dutch, German, Italian; Spanish, and Portuguese, abound in all parts of the Continent. Traces of ante-Columbian voyages to America are continually cropping up. But the appearance, in 1837, of the Antiquitates Americanos sive ita Scriptores Septentrionales rerum ante-Columbiarum , in America, edited by Professor Rafu, at Copenhagen, has given final and conclusive evidence on this interesting subject. America owes its name to an accidental landing. Nor is it at all improbable that the Phoenicians, in their voyage across the stormy Bay of Biscay, or the wild Gulf of Guinea, may have been driven far out of their course to western lands. Even in 1833 a Japanese junk was wrecked upon the coast of Oregon. Humboldt believes that the Canary Isles were known, not only to the Phoenicians, but "perhaps even to the Etruscans." There is a map in the Library of St. Mark, at Venice, made in the year 1436, where an island is delineated and named Antillia. See Trans. R.I.A. vol. xiv. A distinguished modern poet of Ireland has made the voyage of St. Brendan the subject of one of the most beautiful of his poems.

[9] Magh-Rath. —Now Moira, in the county Down. The Chronicum Scotorum gives the date 636, and the Annals of Tighernach at 637, which Dr. O'Donovan considers to be the true date.

Saint Brendan and His Epic Voyage: Was the Irish Saint the First European in the New World?

• Read Later  

Saint Brendan (also referred to by his various epithets ‘the Navigator’, ‘the Voyager’, ‘the Anchorite’, and ‘the Bold’) was an Irish saint who lived between the 5th and 6th centuries AD known for his legendary voyage in search of the ‘Island of Paradise’ or the ‘Land of Promise of the Saints’. 

Part of the early Irish monastic tradition, St. Brendan traveled around northwest Europe to preach the Christian faith and to found monasteries. Whilst there is no historical proof available at present to support his famous voyage, the fantastic adventures of the saint were compiled into a piece of literary work known as the ‘ Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis ’ (Voyage of St. Brendan the Abbot).

A woodcut which shows the scene from Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis where the saint celebrates a mass on the body of a sea monster. ( Public Domain )

St. Brendan’s Ordination

St. Brendan is recorded to have been born in 484 AD, in Ciarraighe Luachra, near Tralee, a port town in the southwestern Irish county of County Kerry, which is part of the province of Munster. The records also indicate that the future saint was baptized by Saint Erc, another Irish saint, at Tubrid, near Ardfert. After a year with his parents, the child Brendan was sent to the home of a local chieftain, Airde mac Fidaigh at Cathair Airde in Listrim, about 5 km (3.11 miles) to the east of his home. At the end of his fifth year, St. Brendan returned to his family, and continued his studies under Saint Erc. In 510 AD, the saint was ordained a priest by his teacher (another source provides 512 AD as the year in which the saint was ordained).

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In the following years, Saint Brendan traveled around the British Isles, spreading Christianity, and founding monastic communities. Some of the monasteries he founded included the ones at Clonfert, in County Galway (which is his largest and most celebrated), at Inis-da-druim (present day Coney Island), in County Clare, and at Shanakeel (known also as Baalynevinoorach), located at the foot of Brandon Hill in County Kerry. Additionally, St. Brendan is also remembered as a voyager thanks to the account of his fantastic voyage in search of the Island of Paradise.

Sculpture of St Brendan, The Square Bantry, County Cork. ( Public Domain )

St. Brendan’s Encounter with a Sea Monster

An account of St. Brendan’s journey to the Island of Paradise may be found in a text known as the ‘ Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis ’, which was written down around the 9th century AD. Several variations are available, which has resulted in some differences in the details of the story. For example, St. Brendan is recorded to have not undertaken the voyage alone, but accompanied by a group of his fellow monks. The number of his companions, however, varies according to the sources, ranging from as few as 14 to as many as 60. In any case, the monks’ voyage took seven years to complete, during which they encountered a number of incredible adventures.

One of these, for example, is the monks’ encounter with the sea monster Jasconius. This tale is said to be the most commonly illustrated adventure of St. Brendan. In the tale, the monks mistake the monster as an island, due to its immense size, and went onto its back. They only realized that their island was in fact a living creature when they made their campfire, as it woke the sea monster up. In one version of the tale, the monks encountered a sea monster that sought to devour them instead. The saint prayed to God for deliverance, and another sea monster emerged from the water to slay the first monster.

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Saint Brendan and the whale from a 15th-century manuscript. ( Public Domain )

Did Saint Brendan Reach the New World?

The voyage of Saint Brendan has led some to argue that it was this Irish saint, rather than the Vikings or Christopher Columbus, who was the first European to have reached the New World. One of the people who sought to determine the veracity of this claim was Tim Severin, a British explorer.

In 1976, Severin built a traditional ship using the design, materials, and techniques that the monks would have used. The explorer successfully sailed from Ireland to North America. Whilst this does not necessarily mean that St. Brendan was the first European to reach the New World, it does demonstrate that the voyage undertaken by the saint was entirely possible.

Statue of Brendan at Fenit Harbour. ( CC BY SA 3.0 )

Top image: Exhibit in the Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Source: Public Domain

By  Wu Mingren

Anon., The Voyage of St Brendan the Abbot [Online]

[O’Donoghue, D. (trans.) 1893. The Voyage of St Brendan the Abbot .] Available at: http://markjberry.blogs.com/StBrendan.pdf

Grattan-Flood, W. & Hartig, O., 1907. St. Brendan. [Online] Available at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02758c.htm

Haggerty, B., 2011. St. Brendan,The Navigator. [Online] Available at: http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ASaints/BrendanNav.html

Howley, A., 2013. Did St. Brendan Reach North America 500 Years Before the Vikings?. [Online] Available at: https://voices.nationalgeographic.org/2013/05/16/did-st-brendan-reach-north-america-500-years-before-the-vikings/

Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage, 2017. Irish Monks and the Voyage of St. Brendan. [Online] Available at: http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/exploration/st-brendan-voyage.php

www.saint-brendan.org , 2010. Saint Brendan The Navigator. [Online] Available at: http://www.saint-brendan.org/index.asp

seems there comes a time when many people so called discovered america even thousands of years ago

Wu Mingren (‘Dhwty’) has a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Archaeology. Although his primary interest is in the ancient civilizations of the Near East, he is also interested in other geographical regions, as well as other time periods.... Read More

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Tim Severin's The Brendan Voyage

While cataloguing the Irish Folklife currach collection, I am always conscious that the boats I am working on are as far from their natural environment as they could possibly be. While most of them once worked the inshore fishing spots of the Irish west coast and rested out in the open when not in use, they are now safely stored indoors in environmentally controlled conditions that will ensure their preservation. As a result of their being stored indoors, both prior to and after the National Museum of Ireland acquired them, the skins of some of our boats have dried out and become hard and inflexible. Except for those who have taken to the water in a currach over a lengthy period, it is difficult to appreciate how their simple design and natural materials will perform when faced with the harsh truths of the sea and the elements. Part of my work on our planned boat gallery at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is to talk to fishermen who worked, and still work, with currachs to understand the boat’s capabilities. Unfortunately, pandemic restrictions have prevented me from carrying out fieldwork and interviews but there are sources that provide first-hand accounts of experiencing travel by currach. Tim Severin’s book The Brendan Voyage is one of those sources.

Tim Severin (1940-2020). Photograph from www.timseverin.net.

Tim Severin was an explorer, author and historian who sadly passed away last month at the age of 80. Throughout 1976-1977, Severin led a small group of fellow explorers as they sailed the journey from Ireland west across the Atlantic Ocean to the Promised Land believed to have been completed by Saint Brendan in the sixth century. Saint Brendan had made the journey in a large currach made of a wooden frame and covered with tanned oxhides. Severin’s aim was to see whether Saint Brendan’s journey had been possible and to do that the group’s vessel would have to be as close a replica of the saint’s boat as possible which also meant using materials and building methods from that time.

The Brendan currach under construction in Crosshaven Boatyard showing its primitive wooden skeleton and hide skin. Photograph by Ian Yeomans.

The finished 36 foot boat, named Brendan, had a double gunwale of oak. Leather thongs were used to lash the ash frame together and the outside of the hull was then covered with 49 quarter of an inch thick oxhides that were stitched together and finished with a wool grease coating. Brendan’s two masts and oars were also made from ash and flax made suitable sails and ropes.

The Brendan currach. Photograph by Cotton Coulson.

The impressive construction of the boat was informed by thorough research, but how would she handle on the open waters of the rough Atlantic? Here, The Brendan Voyage gives us many practical and poetic descriptions of Brendan’s capabilities. Severin describes how Brendan’s light frame meant the boat could mould to the many waves that pounded its shell. The flexibility offered by the leather skin developed in Severin ‘a sense of being part of the sea’s motion’. He believed the leather survived so well in part due to the cold waters of the Atlantic.

The sides of the boat pumped gently in and out as though the Brendan were breathing

When Brendan was holed by drifting ice in the dangerous stretch between Greenland and Newfoundland, crew member George Molony had the unpleasant job of hanging over the gunwale in water temperatures as low as zero degrees centigrade in order to patch and stitch the hull while the boat kept sailing. Up to that point, ice had been glancing rather harmlessly off the curved hull of the currach.

Patches on the canvas skin of a National Museum of Ireland currach from Inis Oírr. © National Museum of Ireland.

The combination of Brendan’s medieval design and natural materials made it an extremely durable boat. Even during sea trials in advance of launching from Ireland, deliberate attempts to capsize Brendan were extraordinarily difficult. The currach could also be fast, when conditions were right. Brendan’s best 24-hour distance was an impressive 115 miles. Brendan reached her destination in June 1977. The large currach’s epic journey had proven that, in Tim Severin’s own words, ‘she was a true ocean-going vessel, and there was no longer any practical objection to the idea that Irish monks might have sailed their leather boats to North America before the Norsemen, and long before Columbus.’

My thanks to Afloat.ie for assistance in sourcing images.

Severin, Tim, The Brendan Voyage , London: Arrow Books Ltd., 1979.

Comments about this page

Hello Bill. The Brendan boat is on public display at Craggaunowen Castle in Co. Clare.

I just finished reading the Modern Library Exploration Edition of The Brendan Voyage and was amazed at the determination of the Crew through the entire process. I did wonder if the Brendan went to a museum after her adventure? It would have been a task to keep her in seaworthy condition, but as an old Sailor I hope she is still around. Great book overall.

Had the honor to meet Tim Severin onboard NatGeo’s Explorer May 2019 when he was a guest lecturer. He was engaging and his explorations so interesting. His contribution appreciated.

He will be missed by all.

Reading this brought back childhood memories of when the Brendan had to make an unscheduled stop at Ballywhoriskey along the Fanad coastline. I just submitted my words on it.

Thanks for your brief synopsis, it is a fascinating story. Mr Severin was a very brave man obviously a driven man but he must have done his research to a great extent to gather confidence for the journey. I love the sea but the thoughts of that challenge that they did with great success was truely remarkable. So proud of my name and of Mr. Severin. What a man!

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The Voyage of Saint Brendan

• Published: June 2014
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The tale of Saint Brendan and his band of monks sailing the ocean in search of a paradise promised to Christians was one of the most popular stories of medieval times and is still a favorite of readers today. Brendan and his men set sail to the west trusting in God; along the way they encounter talking birds, sea monsters, mountains of fire and crystal, and many other strange things, including men who help them in their journey. In one notable passage Brendan encounters Judas, the betrayer of Christ, and arranges for him to have a brief release from his torment by the demons of Hell. After seven years at sea, Brendan at last reaches the promised land.

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The voyage of Saint Brendan : journey to the promised land

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St. Brendan’s Voyage

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Christy Moore

A boat sailed out of Brandon in the year of 501 ’twas a damp and dirty mornin’ Brendan’s voyage it began. Tired of thinnin’ turnips and cuttin’ curley kale When he got back from the creamery he hoisted up the sail. He ploughed a lonely furrow to the north, south, east and west Of all the navigators, St. Brendan was the best. When he ran out of candles he was forced to make a stop, He tied up in Long Island and put America on the map. Did you know that Honolulu was found by a Kerryman, Who went on to find Australia then China and Japan. When he was touchin’ 70, he began to miss the crack, Turnin’ to his albatross he sez “I’m headin’ back”.

To make it fast he bent the mast and built up mighty steam. Around Terra del Fuego and up the warm Gulf Stream, He crossed the last horizon, Mt. Brandon came in sight And when he cleared the customs into Dingle for the night. When he got the Cordon Bleu he went to douse the drought, He headed west to Kruger’s* to murder pints of stout Around by Ballyferriter and up the Conor Pass He freewheeled into Brandon, the saint was home at last.

The entire population came (281) the place was chock-a-block Love nor money wouldn’t get your nose inside the shop. The fishermen hauled up their nets, the farmers left their hay, Kerry people know that saints don’t turn up every day. Everythin’ was goin’ great ’til Brendan did announce His reason for returnin’ was to try and set up house. The girls were flabbergasted at St. Bredan’s neck To seek a wife so late in life and him a total wreck.

Worn down by rejection that pierced his humble pride, “Begod”, sez Brendan “If I run I’ll surely catch the tide” Turnin’ on his sandals he made straight for the docks And haulin’ up his anchor he cast off from the rocks. As he sailed past Inishvickallaun there stood the albatross “I knew you’d never stick it out, ’tis great to see you boss” “I’m bailin’ out” sez Brendan, “I badly need a break A fortnight is about as much as any aul saint could take.”

“Is it right or left for Gibraltar” “What tack do I take for Mizen Head?” “I’d love to settle down near Ventry Harbour”, St. Brendan to his albatross he said.

* – Kruger Kavanagh’s, the ‘Nearest pub to the States’

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Mytishchi is a mid-sized industrial city in North Moscow Oblast , which borders Moscow to the southwest. It is perhaps Moscow Oblast 's principal industrial center, particularly for machinery and armaments.

Get in [ edit ]

A convenient elektrichka route (in fact, the first elektrichka route in Russia) runs frequently all day between Mytishchi and Moscow's Yaroslavsky Train Station. Rapid trains (Sputniks) bound to Pushkino and Bolshevo also stop here.

You can also get here pretty easily by taking the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya metro line to the end at Medvedkovo and there catch a bus or marshrutka to the Mytishchi center from the metro station.

Do [ edit ]

There is one of the biggest ice Arenas in Region (appr. 8 500 visitors) for ice hockey.

At summer: several pay beaches at Pirogovo water reservoir. Malibu pay resort (yachts, cafes etc)

Sleep [ edit ]

Go next [ edit ].

• Pushkino is just a little farther along the rail and elektrichka lines running from Moscow through Mytishchi.

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