Brother of Saint Briga. Monk. Educated by Saint Ita of Killeedy and Saint Erc of Kerry. Friend of Saint Columba and Saint Brendan of Birr, Saint Brigid, and Saint Enda of Arran. Ordained in 512. Built monastic cells at Ardfert, Shankeel, Aleth, Plouaret, Inchquin Island, and Annaghdown. Founded Clonfert monastery and monastic school c.559. Legend says that this community had at least three thousand monks, and that their rule was dictated to Brendan by an angel.

Brendan and his brothers figure in Brendan's Voyage, a tale of monks travelingtravelling the high seas of the Atlantic, evangelizing to the islands, possibly reaching the Americas in the 6th century. At one point they stop on a small island, celebrate Easter Mass, light a fire - and then learn the island is an enormous whale!

Born  - 460 at Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland
Died  - c.577 at Annaghdown (Enach Duin); buried at Clonfert, Ireland

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