|
Did the Irish Discover
America ? The Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot Saint Brendan of Clonfert
Traces of Pre Columbian Irish and Celtic influences
|
||||||||
The next island they came to was completely bare. They pulled their
boat up and began to make camp, building a fire. To their
amazement the island began to swim away. The horrified monks raced back
to their boat and pushed off just in time to see the "island" swim away
with their fire still burning on its back. Hmmm, build a fire on
my back and I think I'd swim away too ,just like the whale in this story
did. The Story continues with Brendan exploring "The Isle of the Blessed" The Promised land , Terra Repromissionis Sanctorum ... America ? In all his voyage took 7 years, he died shortly after returning to Ireland. While the story is frequently dismissed as religious allegory, recent decades have seen considerable speculation as to whether the legends are based on actual events, including speculation that the Isle of the Blessed was indeed America. Tim Severin demonstrated it is possible that a leather-clad
boat such as the Curragh used by Brendan could have reached North
America. Some have alleged that Columbus relied on the manuscript "Navigatio
sancti Brendani abbatis" that told of St. Brendan's travels across the
Atlantic. It is well established that Columbus went to look for "St.
Brendan’s Isle" when he discovered the West Indies. On the eve of
his 1492 voyage Columbus wrote: “I am convinced that the
terrestrial paradise is in the Island of Saint Brendan, which none can
reach save by the Will of God."
Traces of Pre Columbian Irish and Celtic influences There has been circumstantial indication of Irish influence in the St. Lawrence Valley between 875 and 900 AD. Lacrosse .. akin to hurling {hurling is a game that was played by the Irish similar to Lacrosse}. The English versions was bandy or field Hockey, to the Scots it was "shinty. Early French explorers witnessed this game being played by the Mic Mac Indians. Historians relate that the Mic Mac wore crosses on their playing tunics. The name "Mic Mac" inversed in Gaelic also means "son of the son" 1 . It is hardly plausible that a small band such as St. Brendan's could have made such a lasting impact on the Natives that Centuries later they would still be playing a game that this band of Seafarers had taught them. It is however more plausible that Brendan's voyage was not the only one by Irish seafarers as well as other Celts. It also seems plausible that Culdees from the ancient Celtic Church in Ireland, fleeing sea raids of dreaded Vikings, followed Brendan's route, seeking refuge in Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and finally, deep into North America. As well, Brendan had heard of this far away land from other Irish Monks which naturally would suggest that others had been here before him.
There are several interesting examples of Irish and / or Celtic petroglyphs in the New World. The most meritorious ones being in West Virginia CHRISTIAN MESSAGES IN OLD IRISH SCRIPT DECIPHERED FROM ROCK CARVINGS IN W. VA.
1 The History of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Canada 2 The ship Brendan and his compatriots sailed in was known as Curragh or coracle . In the l970s Timothy Severin took interest in the Brendan story. He studied the sea routes and did extensive research before coming up with a Stepping-Stone Route. He maintained that, by using prevailing winds and currents, it would be possible for a small boat to travel from Ireland to North America. He also maintained that the only way to prove this was to do it. He did. The Brendan Voyage (By Tim Severin)
|
|
|
|
|