The Brendan Boat

Craggaunowen is proudly the home of Tim Severin's boat which heroically brought him across the Atlantic Ocean

Tim Severin (1940–2020) was a British explorer, historian, and writer known for his incredible recreations of legendary voyages, most notable the expedition of St Brendan!

Tim Severin - a legend of the sea

Severin was fascinated by historical travel, he set out to prove that many ancient journeys were actually possible using period-accurate boats and equipment.

His most famous expedition was the Brendan Voyage (1976-1977), where he sailed from Ireland to North America in a leather boat, proving that early Irish monks, such as St. Brendan, could have reached the New World nearly 1,000 years before Columbus.

St Brendan - an inspiration for Severin

St Brendan was an Irish monk, of whom originated from Co. Kerry, with a desire to spread Christianity worldwide.

Inspired by the 9th-century Irish text "Navigatio Sancti Brendani", which described St. Brendan's legendary voyage to a distant land (North America)

His success in doing so proved that St Brendan and his monks could've reached land and discovered America, nearly 1,000 years before Christopher Columbus in 1492.