The St Brendan’s Way Heritage Trail explores the life and extraordinary journeys of St Brendan the Navigator, one of Ireland’s most famous saints. Experience the sights and sounds of St Brendan’s early years in Fenit, West Kerry for yourself, by following the 26km route of the Slí Bhreanainn or St Brendan’s Way. This heritage trail runs along the north of Tralee Bay; a wild coast that shaped the life of a young man who would become one of the most influential figures in the early Irish church. A figure that has inspired pilgrims and adventurers alike and whose reputation has travelled across the world. Slí Bhreanainn or St Brendan’s Way begins in the coastal village of Fenit, County Kerry. This village is a short journey from Tralee, Kerry’s capital, and is easily accessible from the Green Way that connects Tralee and Fenit. If you’d like to experience the St Brendan’s Way Heritage Trail as an interactive map, try our companion StoryMap for a visual voyage through the area. The St Brendan audio guide was written by the Saint Brendan Heritage Committee, Fenit with Abarta Heritage and recorded at Bluebird Studios with storyteller Níall de Búrca. The guide was based on the research and books by Father Gearoid O’Donnchadha, St Brendan’s greatest champion. The project was supported by the Heritage Council through the Community Heritage Grants Scheme 2023. St Brendan audio guide: https://www.abartaheritage.ie/st-brendans-way-audio-guide/ St Brendan StoryMap: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c7a09404ca924f789fb9fc509f1aba7f Saint Brendan of Kerry, the Navigator, was born in Fenit in 484AD. He is most famous for his legendary voyage across the North Atlantic in a wooden boat. Without the help of navigational instruments Brendan may have reached America 500 years before the Vikings and 1000 years before Christopher Columbus. The travel adventures of Kerry’s patron saint were written down in all major medieval monasteries across Europe. Brendan died on 16th May 577AD and was buried in Clonfert, Co. Galway, one of his main foundations. We know of Brendan chiefly from four sources – the Irish Life, the Latin Life, the Latin Navigatio and many vernacular versions of his voyage in the emerging languages of Europe, collectively known as the Voyage of Brendan. His travel stories made Brendan one of the most famous saints across medieval Europe. What makes Brendan unique among the medieval saints in Ireland is that many places associated with him exist to this day. Indeed, in and around Tralee Bay we find Fenit Island, where Brendan was born, his place of fosterage in Listrim, his place of baptism at the ancient site of Tobar na Molt, his place of ordination by Bishop Erc in Lerrig, and Ardfert Cathedral, one of his major monastic foundations. Along with the Heritage Park in Fenit, these places form the Slí Bhreanainn (the Brendan Way), researched and established by Brendan’s greatest champion, the late Father Gearóid Ó Donnchadha. Our new audio guide and storymap is dedicated to him.

Address
St Brendan Heritage Park Fenit, Co. Kerry