Ó Riain (n.d.) proposed a possible connection between the anonymous Life of Brendan, son of Finnlug and the Canons Regular of St Augustine. Mac Mathúna (2006) notes that Canons Island, which features prominently in the Life, was founded on 29 June 1189, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, to whom the order’s house at Ratoo was also dedicated. This suggests a possible Augustinian institutional context, but does not establish the author’s identity or prove that the Life was written on Canons Island.

Mac Mathúna, S. (2006) ‘The Irish Life of Saint Brendan: Textual History, Structure and Date’, in Burgess, G.S. and Strijbosch, C. (eds.) The Brendan Legend: Texts and Versions. Leiden and Boston: Brill, pp. 117–158.
Ó Riain, P. (n.d.) Notes on the Irish Life of St Brendan. Unpublished research notes, cited in Mac Mathúna (2006, p. 136).

¹ “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he takes great delight in his commandments.” [Psalm 112:1; Vulgate Psalm 111:1]

² Blessed, righteous and perfect is the man who has (literally, “upon whom there are”) the fear and awe of the Lord Almighty, and who earnestly desires to fulfil the commands and teachings of God, as declared in the canon of the Old and New Testaments.

³ There were multitudes of patriarchs, prophets, apostles and disciples of the Lord in the Old and New Testaments who bore witness to this truth. They were truly blessed, faithful, perfect and persevering in their desire and ardent longing to fulfil the divine commands and teachings, and in their holy fear of the Lord, with complete devotion in their hearts and minds and without consideration of anything else but this alone.

⁴ One of this company under the New Testament was the man whose feast and commemoration fall at this time of year, on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of June (16 May), namely, Brendan, son of Finnlug, of the race of Ciar, son of Fergus. This holy Brendan was a leading figure in faith and piety throughout much of the world. He was righteous, like Abraham [Genesis 15:6]; a prophetic psalmist, like David, son of Jesse [1 Samuel 16:1–13; Psalms]; an eminent sage, like Solomon, son of David [1 Kings 4:29–34]; a lawgiver, like Moses, son of Amram [Exodus 24:12; 34:27]; an inspired interpreter, like Saint Jerome; of surpassing intellect, like Augustine; of excellent general scholarship, like Origen; and a virgin, like John, the beloved disciple of the Lord [John 13:23]; an evangelist, like Matthew [Matthew 9:9; 10:3]; a preacher, like Paul [Acts 9:20]; a chief messenger of forgiveness, like Peter, prince of the apostles [Matthew 16:18–19; John 20:21–23]; chief of hermits, like John the Baptist [Matthew 3:1–4]; a commentator, like Gregory of Rome; and a prudent guide over land sea, like Noah, son of Lamech [Genesis 5:28–29]. And just as Noah raised his ark high above the swelling waves of the Flood [Genesis 7–8], so Brendan will raise his monks and his people above the fires of the Judgement [2 Peter 3:7–13], so that, through the power and true piety of Brendan, son of Finnlugh, neither smoke, nor mist, nor sparks will touch them.

⁵ It was during the reign of Ænguis, son of Nathfraech, King of Munster, that the great Saint Brendan was born. He came from Kerry-Luachra, in the district of Alltraighe-Cuile. His father, Finnlugh, was a freeman of noble birth, devout and righteous, who, with his lawful wife, lived in obedience and religious discipline under the guidance of Bishop Erc. Before Brendan was born, his mother saw a vision in which her bosom was full of pure gold and her breasts glistened like snow. When she told Bishop Erc of her vision, he said, “A child of power will be born to you, full of the grace of the Holy Spirit”—that is, Brendan.

⁶ Some distance from Finnlugh’s house lived a certain rich man named Airde, son of Fidach. At this time, a chief prophet of Ireland, named Becc MacDé, came to his mansion. Airde asked Becc what extraordinary event was soon to take place there, and Becc replied, “This neart, between you and the sea, your true and worthy king will be born. Many kings and princes will honour him devoutly, and he will carry them with him to heaven.” On the night of Brendan’s birth, thirty cows belonging to Airde MacFidaigh gave birth to thirty heifer calves. The next day, Airde rose early and went in search of the house where the child had been born. He found Finnlugh’s dwelling and the young infant there. Eagerly, he knelt before the child and presented him with the thirty cows and their thirty calves. This was the first alms-offering made to Brendan. Then this great landholder took the child in his arms and said, “From this day forth, let this child be my foster-son for ever.”

⁷ On the night of Brendan’s birth, Bishop Erc saw Alltraighe-Cuile in an extraordinary blaze of light, unlike anything he had ever seen before, and witnessed various angelic ministrations throughout the surrounding district, with the angels dressed in snow-white robes. In the morning, he rose early and went to Finnlugh’s house. Taking the child in his arms, he addressed him thus: “O man of God” (that is, one who will serve God), “receive me as your faithful servant, and many will greatly rejoice at your birth, as my heart and soul now greatly rejoice in it.” Thus spoke Bishop Erc. Then he prostrated himself in the child’s presence and wept copiously for joy. Soon afterwards, he baptised him, and at first, at his parents’ wish, he was given the name Mobhi, as the poet said:

⁸ Mobhi was his first name,
Given by his parents; fair was his face.
A hospitable, inquisitive and lithe youth,
He was a help to the men of Ireland.

⁹ Afterwards, a white drop (broen finn), that is, a white mist, fell there and spread over all Fenit. Hence he was truly called Broenfinn, find meaning “white”, for he was white in body and soul, as the poet said:

¹⁰ Broenfind was his name thereafter,
In body and in soul.
From that mist he received the whole,
From Bishop Erc one part of it.

¹¹ It was then that three purple, or dark-red, wethers leapt forth from the fountain (of his baptism), as the fee for Brendan’s baptism, as it was said:

¹² Three purple wethers, a pleasant flock,
The baptismal fees for young Brendan;
A handsome gift sprang forth,
From the well alone.

¹³ His family then took him with them, so that he might remain in their care for one year. After that, Bishop Erc took him to his foster-mother, Saint Ita, and he remained with her for five years. The nun loved him exceedingly, for she saw the angels ministering around him and the grace of the Holy Spirit manifestly upon him. Brendan would always cry out joyfully to the nun whenever he saw her. One day, Ita asked him, “What is it that brings you so much joy, my holy child?” she said. “You,” he replied, “whom I see continually speaking to me, and the countless virgins like you, who lovingly nurse me, passing me from one to another.” These angels had taken the form of virgins:

¹⁴ Angels in the guise of fair virgins
Were fostering Brendan,
Passing him from one hand to another,
Without causing the infant much harm.

¹⁵ Afterwards, for five years, he read the psalms constantly under Bishop Erc, and Ita grieved greatly at his absence. Now, Bishop Erc had no milch-cow, for he received only modest alms from the faithful. One day, therefore, he needed milk for his foster-child, and he said, “God is able to provide it, my son.” After this, a wild cow came every day with her calf from Slieve-Luachra to be milked for him, and, after being milked, returned alone to the mountains.

¹⁶ At this time, Brig lived with him. She was his full sister, and he had great affection for her, for he could see the angels ministering around her, and he saw the countenance of his foster-father shining with the radiance of the summer sun.

¹⁷ One day, Bishop Erc went on a mission to preach the Word of God, taking Brendan with him in the carriage. Brendan was then ten years old. While the clergy were engaged in preaching, Brendan was left alone in the carriage, where he sat reading the psalms. Then a young maiden, gentle and modest, with flaxen hair and of princely family, approached the carriage and looked at him. Seeing how beautiful and radiant his face was, she suddenly leapt playfully into the carriage to play with him. Then he said to her, “Go home, and bear ill will (or blame) towards whoever left you here.” He seized the reins of the carriage and gave her a severe beating with them, until she cried and bawled and ran away to the place where her parents, the king and queen, were staying.

¹⁸ Soon afterwards, Bishop Erc returned and severely rebuked Brendan for beating the innocent maiden. “I will do penance for it,” said Brendan, “so pronounce what my penance shall be.” “Go into that cave until morning,” said Bishop Erc, “and remain there alone until I visit you tomorrow.” Brendan then sat down in the cave and began to recite his psalms and hymns of praise to the Lord. Bishop Erc watched beside the cave, listening to Brendan without his knowledge. The sound of Brendan’s voice as he chanted the psalms could be heard a thousand paces in every direction. The voice of Colum Cille could be heard to the same distance when he chanted his psalms and hymns:

¹⁹ The sound of melodious Brendan’s voice,
In the cave near Fenit,
A thousand paces in every direction,
His clear, high voice was heard.

²⁰ It was then that the clergy saw throngs of angels ascending to heaven and descending to earth around the cave until morning. From that time onwards, no one could gaze steadily upon Brendan’s countenance because of the abundance of its divine radiance, except Finan Cam, who was himself filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit.

²¹ One day, Brendan and Bishop Erc were travelling together when a young man joined their company along the way. Some enemies of his happened to meet him: seven armed men. Great fear seized him, and he said, “These men will murder me now.” “Go a little further,” said Brendan, “and lie down in the shadow of that standing stone.” He did as he was told, and Brendan raised his hands to God and prayed that the young man might be saved by taking the form of the standing stone. His enemies then approached the stone, cut off its top in the shape of the young man’s head, wounded the stone in its side, and left it headless, carrying away what appeared to be the head of their enemy. That stone still stands in the same place, as knowledgeable people tell us. Thus Brendan made a stone of the man and a man of the stone. “Do penance,” Bishop Erc told them, “for taking the head of the stone and for your enemy’s having escaped you safe and sound.” Afterwards, they performed fitting penance under Bishop Erc’s guidance, and continued to do so from that time onwards.

²² After Brendan had learnt the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, he wished to record and learn the rules of the saints of Ireland. Bishop Erc then gave him permission to go and learn these rules, for he knew well that such counsel came from God. Bishop Erc said to him, “Return to me when you have learnt these rules, so that you may receive Holy Orders from me.” When Brendan went to seek the advice of his foster-mother, Ita, she gave him the same counsel: “Learn the rules of the saints of Ireland.” She also said, “Do not acquire this learning from women or virgins, lest you give occasion for reproach.” “Go,” she said, “and on the way you will meet a charming soldier of noble birth.” And so it came to pass that Mac Lenin was that warrior. After Brendan had continued on his journey, Mac Lenin met him. Then Brendan said to him, “Do penance, for God is calling you; henceforth, be a dutiful son to Him.” Colman Mac Lenin was then converted to the Lord, and a church was built for him soon afterwards, as Colman said:

²³ Brendan, flame of the victorious life.

²⁴ Afterwards, Brendan entered Connaught, drawn by the fame of a certain devout man who lived there, named Iarlath, son of Lug, son of Tren, son of Fiach, son of Imcadha (or Mochta), son of Bresal, son of Siract, son of Fiacha-finn. Brendan learnt from him all the rules of the saints of Ireland. Then Brendan said to Iarlath, “This will not be the place of your resurrection.” “My holy son,” said Iarlath, “why do you conceal from us the divine graces of the Holy Spirit that are manifestly within you, and the countless powers of the Lord Almighty that lie hidden in your spotless soul? You have come to learn from me,” said Iarlath, “but henceforth it is I who shall be yours. Only accept me as your faithful servant for evermore. But tell me now, where will be the place of my resurrection?” Then Brendan said to him, “Have a new carriage made for you, since you are a bishop (or a senior), and travel in it on your journey. Wherever the two shafts of the carriage break, there will be the place of your resurrection, and the resurrection of a multitude with you.” Shortly afterwards, the bishop travelled in the carriage, and he had not gone far when both shafts broke. The place is called Tuaim-da-ghualann. Then, the two composed a poem together as they looked towards the burial place from some distance, while the angels ministering there were clearly visible to them. Brendan spoke the first five verses, and Iarlath spoke the rest.

Brendan #

¹ Noble churchyard, radiant with angels,
Bright is its splendour before my eyes;
Those who are buried in its soil
Shall not endure the torments of hell.

² It was the archangel who marked it with crosses,
And consecrated its green turf;
It is not the dwelling of the hideous demon
That shall be revealed to us there.

³ It shall be a noble church, with numerous clergy,
Where great synods will be held;
It will be a refuge for high and low alike,
And there will be room for multitudes.

⁴ Should your faithful forsake your church,
Their days will be days of tribulation;
Evil is the ruin that follows here,
And the doom of hell hereafter.

⁵ When, in time to come, your brethren shall appear,
Summoned to the judgement seat [2 Corinthians 5:10],
You shall be their advocate,
If they follow your guidance now.

Iarlath #

¹ As long as they live in obedience to me,
And while the cross remains,
They shall drive their enemies far away;
They shall shine like the sun [Matthew 13:43].

² As long as they live in obedience to me—
I speak the truth; there is no falsehood—
Their sons shall survive them;
They shall suffer no pain hereafter.

³ Happy is he who takes the cross
Upon the hill of evergreen yews.
He shall not be condemned to hell after judgement,
Whoever lies buried in its soil.

⁴ Be not angry, O MacDuach!
I shall repay you in full:
Heaven and abundance without measure,
And my resting-place for evermore.

⁵ Kings and clerics of your lineage shall triumph
As long as they remain obedient to me;
No man shall demand their hostages:
They shall overcome every attacker.

⁶ When Brendan had left Iarlath, he continued on his way towards the plain of Ai. On the road, an angel met him and said, “Write down from me the rules of the religious life” (literally, “the words of piety”). Then, Brendan wrote down from the angel all the holy ecclesiastical rules, and this rule is still extant. As they travelled across the plain, they saw a bier bearing the body of a dead man, while his friends lamented him. “Put your trust in the Lord,” said Brendan, “and the dead man you have will be restored to life.” After Brendan had prayed to God, the young man immediately rose to life, and his family took him away with exceeding joy. Afterwards, all the people began to gaze upon Brendan with great interest, and they brought him before the king of the plain. The king offered him land in any district of the plain he might choose, but Brendan did not accept it, for he did not wish to remain there.

⁷ When Brendan had written down the rule given by the angel, together with the rules of the saints of Ireland, their customs and devotional practices, he returned to Bishop Erc and received ordination from him. It was then that he heard these words in the Gospel: “Everyone who has left father, mother, sister or lands shall receive a hundredfold in this present time and inherit eternal life.” [Matthew 19:29]

⁸ From that time onwards, the love of the Lord grew exceedingly in Brendan’s heart, and he desired to leave his country and land, his parents and his family. He earnestly begged the Lord to grant him some place that was secret, secluded, secure and delightful, far removed from other people. While he slept that night, he heard the voice of an angel from heaven saying to him, “Arise, O Brendan, for God will grant you what you have prayed for—even the Land of Promise.” Then Brendan arose, and his heart was greatly gladdened by these words. He withdrew alone to Sliabh-Daidche (Brandon Hill), from where he gazed upon the vast and gloomy ocean on every side. There he saw in a vision a beautiful and noble island, with angels ministering upon it. After this, he remained there for three days and then fell asleep again. The angel of the Lord came to speak with him there and said, “Henceforth, I shall remain in close union with you for ever and ever, and I shall teach you how to find the beautiful island you have seen in your vision and long to reach.” At these words, Brendan wept exceedingly for joy and gave fervent thanks to God.

⁹ Then Brendan left the mountain and returned to his community of monks. He said to them, “Build three large vessels, each with three banks of oars, three sails made of hides, and twenty men on board.” But they were not all clerics, as the poet said:—

¹⁰ Three vessels the sage sailed
Over the foaming surges of the ocean;
Twenty men in each vessel he had
On the waves of the boisterous sea.

¹¹ Three sets of oars in each vessel,
Sweet the music of their rowing;
Three sails of hides to be unfurled
In each of the three vessels he sailed.

¹² Not all who went were clerics
On that voyage; sweet was their mutual love;
The monks were humble—spare their looks—
Who sailed in the three vessels.

¹³ Then Brendan, son of Finnlugh, sailed over the loud-voiced waves of the rough-crested sea, over the billows of the greenish tide, and over the abysses of the wondrous, terrible and relentless ocean, where they saw in its depths red-mouthed sea monsters and many great whales. They discovered beautiful and marvellous islands, but did not remain in them. For five years they travelled upon the ocean, so wondrous, strange and utterly unknown to them. Throughout all that time, they never happened to meet another person, and not one of the crew suffered any want, nor did any harm befall anyone in body or soul. This was indeed a wonder, for Brendan had not allowed them to bring any provisions with them. Instead, he told them that God would provide food for them wherever they might be, just as He had fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish [Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14].

¹⁴ Now, when Easter drew near, the brethren urged Brendan to go ashore and celebrate the paschal feast there. “God,” said Brendan, “can provide land for us wherever He wills.” When Easter came, the great whale raised its huge bulk above the breakers and roaring waves of the sea, until its back lay level and firm like a green meadow, smooth and even. They went ashore upon this land celebrated the Easter feast there for one day and two nights. As soon as they returned to their vessels, the whale plunged back into the sea. In this way, they celebrated Easter for seven years upon the whale’s back, as Cuimin of Connor relates:

¹⁵ Brendan loved unceasing devotion,
According to his synod and his peers.
Seven years upon the whale’s back;
Severe was this manner of devotion.

¹⁶ Each year, as Easter drew near, the whale raised its back until it became dry, solid land.

¹⁷ On certain days, as they travelled across the wondrous ocean, they saw the deep, black currents of the rough-crested sea, and their vessels were in danger of foundering beneath the violence of the storm. Each man then gazed intently at Brendan’s face, for the peril they faced was exceedingly great. Brendan raised his voice and cried aloud, “It is enough for you, O mighty sea, to drown me alone; but let these people escape unharmed.” Then the sea grew calm, and the rushing whirlpools subsided at once. From that time onwards, they harmed no one else.