*St Brendan May 16th
St Brendan, c.484-577, (Brandan, Brian, Brandan, Brannan, Briannan) Brendan the Navigator), was born in Ireland and established several monasteries there, most specially Confert on the Shannon, and had 3000 monks under his direction at one time.
There is a strong tradition that he had two important monasteries in Scotland: on Bute and on Tiree. He was also famous as a traveller, calling on Barra on his way to discover America (one thousand years before Columbus), via Iceland and the faroes. He may have set-up a Retreat on the Garvellach islands in 543.
One of the Cathedral bells in Oban is named after Brendan.
he has a strong connection with Barra. A depiction of him sailing to Barra, made by Fr Calum MacNeil can be seen at Bt Brendan’s church on Barra, near the place where he came ashore. There is also a graveyard bearing his name, including remains of monks’ cells.
