Brendan the Navigator's Little Island Adventure

It was the year 656 A.D. when Brendan the Navigator, a traveling monk, outfitted a large leather boat with a hearty crew and took off for the coast of Ireland. He was in search of the Land of Eternal Youth, Tír na nÓg. The boat was a currach-like boat of cowhide and ribs where the hides are tanned in oak bark. Although there are differences of how many other travelers were with him, it usually ranges about 14-16 others. The Voyage of Saint Brendan was a fascinating tale which many believed was more fairy tale than factual. Still, the accounts in the tale can be explained such as an island where an angry god threw fire at them has been identified as possibly volcanic Iceland. Another such interesting tale is at one point the weary travelers found a very small island. Desperate for land and hot food, they beached the boat and climbed out to build a campfire and cook something to eat. Not long after the fire started to burn, the island began to shake and quiver. Terrified of an earthquake, the monks immediately ran back to their currach. They watched in fear and amazement as the great grey island began to move! The fire sizzled out and the magnificent whale plunged into the sea dousing the fire on his back!

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Over the next several weeks, I will be publishing, with the aid of my daughter, Bettse Folsom, a series of answer & questions & snippets about Ireland that many people have asked me during events where I have attended. The recordings of these can be found on my YouTube channel, HelenWalshFolsom or if you have a question, please contact me by email and I will be happy to address it.

Thank you for reading my blog!