Saint Brendan and Garden of Edens

Saint Brendan and the whale
from a 15th-century manuscript
Source: wikimedia commons

Quest for Gardens of Eden had been always temptation  for adventurers. One of the earliest was Saint Brendan whose feast day was celebrated last Friday (May 16th). Saint Brendan nick name is "the Navigator" as per his legendary travels described in "Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis" ("Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot"). Saint Brendan was born in Tralee in south-west corner of Ireland around 484 AD. He was baptised by Saint Erc and later ordained as priest in 512 AD. Since then he sailed around Islands surrounding Ireland and founding monasteries. The best known was Clonfert in Galeway. This voyages temptate him to risk more far away travel - to search for Garden of Eden:

"Saint Brendan travel to an Island, that he described as being Garden of Eden. He claimed that Garden Of Eden was an mountain that was hidden behind some clouds." Source: Decoding The Past Mysteries Of The Garden Of Eden, Youtube 

More detailed information comes from Dominic Daly "Celtic Review" cited below:

Hieronymus Bosch
The Garden of Earthly Delights
(Garden of Eden)
Source: wikimedia commons

"In the vessel so constructed and appointed the Saint and his confreres put off into the Atlantic, taking a south-westerly course. For fifteen days they sailed before a steady and favorable breeze, on the cessation of which they were carried along by ocean currents and fitful winds for another 15 days (some versions seem to say a month), arriving finally at a number of islands of so lovely a description, that the wanderers made no doubt they had reached 'the earthly paradise' — the veritable site of the Garden of Eden. The most beautiful fruits and flowers abounded, talking birds of brilliant and varied plumage flitted about amidst the luxuriant vegetation, and neither nocturnal darkness nor winter cold were known in those bright and happy lands. For seven years the enraptured mariners remained in those delightful regions, but not inactively. They made numerous voyages between and away from the islands which constituted their headquarters. In one of those excursions towards the end of the seven years, after beating about the ocean for a long time, and experiencing storms and darkness, they arrived at what appeared to be a mainland, very fertile and full of trees. For many days (fifteen and forty are both given in different versions) they explored this country without coming to the end of it. At last they came to a mighty river which they were unable, and apparently unwilling, to cross — du reste, a supernatural personage conveniently presented himself, and admonished them against going further on that occasion. So they turned back, and having taken on board a quantity of fruit and specimens of the gems and precious stones lying about, they returned to their islands. This appears to have been their last excursion of any importance; and having refitted and provisioned their vessel, they set sail for home, and arrived at Clonfert at the end of three months, having been away from their monastery for 'seven successive Easters'." Source: Legend of Saint Brendan

It is no surprise that such description lead to theory that Brendan in fact reach America - most probably one of Caribbean Islands. However there is no hard evidence to support this theory.

Primary sources:

[1] Legend of Saint Brendan
[2] Decoding The Past Mysteries Of The Garden Of Eden, Youtube