In 484 Saint Brendan was born in Ciarraighe Luachra near the port of Tralee, in Co Kerry, in the province of Munster, in the South West of Ireland. He was baptised at Tubrid, near Ardfert, by Saint Erc. He spent his first year with his parents, then he went to the home of the local chieftain, Airde mac Fidaigh at Cathair Airde in Listrim, three miles to the East. He returned to his family at the end of his fifth year and completed his studies under Saint Erc, who ordained him priest in 510.
Between the years 510 and 530 St Brendan built monastic cells at Ardfert, and, at the foot of Mount Brandon, Shanakeel— Seana Cill, usually translated as “the old church” — also called Balynevinoorach.
From here he is said to have set out on his famous seven years voyage for Paradise. The old Irish Calendars assigned a…
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