The years 491 to 615 saw the most remarkable men, women and events that ever Ireland produced. We begin with the most likely date of Patrick’s death and we end with the death of Columbanus in Bobbio in Italy in 615. That 124 years saw the life and death of all those labeled ‘the second order of Irish saints’ , the founders of our great monasteries and our most important missionaries. Finnian (d.549) founded the great monastery of Clonard on the banks of the Boyne in County Meath in 520. Among the young men who entered that monastery were Colmcille
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Further information on the 6th Century
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Further information on St Brendan
Two Irishmen are named for their achievements, Daniel O Connell, the Liberator and Saint Brendan of Fenit, the Navigator. We are justly proud of them, Kerrymen both. A local Fenit committee has received planning permission to erect a statue in honour of Saint Brendan in his birthplace. As we move into the third millennium, it seems appropriate to make this gesture in honour of a local man who inspired thousands down the years by his spirit of courage, initiative, enterprise and love of God. We know of Brendan (or Bréanainn) from four sources, the Irish Lives, the Latin Lives, the
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Latest news on the Brendan Project June 2007
The Monument to Saint Brendan The Navigator was unveiled on Sunday September 19th 2004. by Bishop Bill Murphy, Bishop of Kerry and successor of St. Brendan. The statue is a magnificent piece of sculpture, a credit to the sculptor, Tighe O Donoghue, and to Cast Ltd., the founders. Credit also to Tom and Eugene Farrelly, local stonemasons, for the magnificent plinth. We were delighted to see so many of you at the unveiling on Fenit Pier at 3 o’clock on the 19th. The day was wild – it was blowing force 9 -and it seemed appropriate that Brendan should meet
