Brendan's Cove
On the north shore of the Dingle peninsula at the end of a narrow road sits the little cove, sheltered between towering cliff walls, from which the legendary St. Brendan sailed on his fantastical 6th century voyage of discovery to places as far-fetched as North America.
Known as the patron saint of sailors, Saint Brendan was born in Ireland at the end of the 5th century. He took many voyages over the course of his life. Over the centuries, a variety of scholars and historians have been inspired by his adventures. They are not sure where he traveled but they have been captivated by the descriptions of his adventures and have speculated endlessly about the real geographical locations that may be hidden within his story.
So, where did Brendan go on his voyages? In recent years, Tim Serverin , a British explorer and historian, took a voyage across the North Atlantic in which he proved that it was possible that Saint Brendan went all the way to North America. Though this is indeed possible, what we know of Saint Brendan is still shadowed in mystery. The first stories of his adventures were tall tales called immram—Old Irish tales about the hero’s journey to the Otherworld--written down centuries after his life by Irish and German monks. Wherever Saint Brendan went, Saint Brendan’s Cove is the most likely place for the beginning of his amazing adventures.
Known as the patron saint of sailors, Saint Brendan was born in Ireland at the end of the 5th century. He took many voyages over the course of his life. Over the centuries, a variety of scholars and historians have been inspired by his adventures. They are not sure where he traveled but they have been captivated by the descriptions of his adventures and have speculated endlessly about the real geographical locations that may be hidden within his story.
So, where did Brendan go on his voyages? In recent years, Tim Serverin , a British explorer and historian, took a voyage across the North Atlantic in which he proved that it was possible that Saint Brendan went all the way to North America. Though this is indeed possible, what we know of Saint Brendan is still shadowed in mystery. The first stories of his adventures were tall tales called immram—Old Irish tales about the hero’s journey to the Otherworld--written down centuries after his life by Irish and German monks. Wherever Saint Brendan went, Saint Brendan’s Cove is the most likely place for the beginning of his amazing adventures.