Clonfert Cathedral
In Galway County, Ireland there is a small cathedral with stone bricks and archways that could be more accurately described as a church rather than a cathedral. Saint Brendan founded a monastery at the site of this small Romanesque building, Clonfert Cathedral, between 557 and 563 AD. It is also the place where Saint Brendan is buried.
Over the years, the original Cathedral has been lost. The Vikings burnt it to the ground three separate times—in 1016, 1164, and 1179—as they did to so many of the churches in Ireland during the their raids. The Vikings primarily targeted churches because of their wealth. During the Middle Ages the Cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque style. The oldest parts of the Cathedral were built in the 12th, 13th, and 15th centuries. But we can still see, in small ways, signs of St. Brendan within the Cathedral.
Within the cathedral is a small stone carving of a mermaid, a reminder that St. Brendan was first and foremost a voyager. There have been many myths concerning the world of mermaids—describing them as water fairies, or water nymphs or even sirens that lead men, like the legendary Odysseus, into temptation. Some Christians may see the mermaid within the Cathedral as a sign to avoid temptation. But I disagree. I see it the mermaid instead as a sign of the yearning and desire St. Brendan had to explore the unknown and the inspiration that led him to voyage out over the sea.
Over the years, the original Cathedral has been lost. The Vikings burnt it to the ground three separate times—in 1016, 1164, and 1179—as they did to so many of the churches in Ireland during the their raids. The Vikings primarily targeted churches because of their wealth. During the Middle Ages the Cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque style. The oldest parts of the Cathedral were built in the 12th, 13th, and 15th centuries. But we can still see, in small ways, signs of St. Brendan within the Cathedral.
Within the cathedral is a small stone carving of a mermaid, a reminder that St. Brendan was first and foremost a voyager. There have been many myths concerning the world of mermaids—describing them as water fairies, or water nymphs or even sirens that lead men, like the legendary Odysseus, into temptation. Some Christians may see the mermaid within the Cathedral as a sign to avoid temptation. But I disagree. I see it the mermaid instead as a sign of the yearning and desire St. Brendan had to explore the unknown and the inspiration that led him to voyage out over the sea.