Brendan the Navigator

Saint Brendan the Navigator
"Saint Brendan and the Whale" from a 15th-century manuscript
Catholic priest, abbot
Born	c. AD 484 Ciarraighe Luachra near Tralee, Kingdom of Munster
Died	c. AD 577 Annaghdown, Kingdom of Connacht
Venerated in	Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Anglican Communion
Major shrine	Clonfert, Ireland
Feast	16 May
Attributes	whale; priest celebrating Mass on board a ship while fish gather to listen; one of a group of monks in a small boat
Patronage	boatmen; divers; mariners; sailors; travellers; whales; portaging canoes; Diocese of Clonfert; Diocese of Kerry; United States Navy

Brendan of Clonfert (c. AD 484 – c. 577) is one of the early Irish monastic saints and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is also referred to as Brendan the Navigator, Brendan the Voyager, Brendan the Anchorite, and Brendan the Bold. The Irish translation of his name is Naomh Bréanainn or Naomh Breandán. He is mainly known for his legendary voyage to find the “Isle of the Blessed” which is sometimes referred to as “Saint Brendan’s Island”. The written narrative of his journey comes from the immram The Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis (Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot).

Saint Brendan's feast day is celebrated on 16 May by Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians.