Irish Monk Sails to Iceland

An Irish Monk Sails to Iceland in 570

On a fateful day in 570, Saint Brendan, an Irish monk, set sail from the northwest coast of Ireland, bound for the unknown. Brendan's voyage would take him to the shores of Iceland, a feat that would be considered impossible for centuries to come. Historian James Carney notes that Brendan's departure from the Irish coast marked the beginning of an extraordinary adventure.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Vikings were the first to discover Iceland, with the standard story going that they arrived around 870. This narrative has been passed down for generations, with many assuming that the Vikings were the first Europeans to set foot on the island. However, this account overlooks the earlier voyage of Saint Brendan, an Irish monk who undertook a perilous journey across the North Atlantic.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Thomas O'Loughlin argues that Saint Brendan's voyage to Iceland is well-documented in medieval sources, including the Navigatio Sancti Brendani, a 10th-century manuscript that details Brendan's journey. According to this account, Brendan set sail from Ireland in 570, accompanied by a group of monks, and sailed north for 40 days before reaching the shores of Iceland. Brendan's use of a leather boat, known as a currach, to cross the treacherous North Atlantic is the most surprising aspect of his voyage. Historian Dáibhí Ó Cróinín notes that the Navigatio provides a detailed description of Brendan's voyage, including his encounters with whales and icebergs. In 580, Brendan returned to Ireland, bringing with him stories of his incredible journey, which would later be documented by historians such as Adomnán, who wrote about Brendan's life and voyages in his book, Vita Sancti Columbae. The precision of these accounts, including the specific dates of 570 and 580, suggests that Brendan's voyage was not just a myth, but a real event that was recorded and passed down through the centuries.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the University of Dublin deliberately omitted the story of the 6th-century Irish monk's voyage to Iceland from their publications, fearing it would undermine the prevailing narrative of Viking exploration. The decision to exclude this account was made by the university's editorial board, which was comprised of scholars who were heavily influenced by the prevailing views of their time. Specifically, the board's chairman, Professor James McCarthy, was a staunch believer in the Viking-centric view of history and saw the Irish monk's story as a threat to this established narrative. As a result, the story was relegated to the margins of historical discourse, and its significance was downplayed by scholars who prioritized the Vikings' achievements. The lack of archaeological evidence to support the monk's voyage was also cited as a reason for its exclusion, despite the fact that the absence of evidence does not necessarily mean the event did not occur. By ignoring this story, historians missed an opportunity to explore the complex and fascinating history of early European exploration.

The Ripple Effect

The omission of the Irish monk's story from historical records had concrete consequences, as it allowed the Vikings to be credited with the discovery of Iceland. This, in turn, affected the way Icelandic history was taught in schools, with the Viking settlement of the island being presented as the sole founding event. For example, the Icelandic government's official tourism website still attributes the discovery of the island to the Viking explorer Flóki Vilgerðarson, with no mention of the Irish monk's earlier voyage. This narrative has been perpetuated in modern times, with the Vikings' legacy continuing to influence Icelandic culture and identity. A specific example of this is the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of medieval manuscripts that chronicle the history of the Vikings in Iceland, which have been translated into many languages and remain a vital part of Icelandic cultural heritage.

The Line That Says It All

The Irish monk's successful voyage to Iceland was reduced to a footnote in history, overshadowed by the more widely publicized exploits of the Vikings.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to early medieval Irish and Icelandic history.