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Friday, February 29, 2008

Did you know the Irish discovered America?

Thought I would put out a blurb to jump start St. Patrick's day.

It's true; an Irish Monk, named St. Brendan, may actually have discovered America years before the Leif Erickson or Christopher Columbus. In 583 AD, St. Brendan used a boat fashioned from an ash framework and tanned hides treated with pitch to sail across the North Atlantic Ocean. The boat was called a currach and this type of vessel is still used on Ireland’s west coat.

St. Brendan documented his voyage with a manuscript describing his visits to many islands in search of the ‘Promised Land’ that is still in publication today. Christopher Columbus visited Ireland a few years before his famous voyage to read the St. Brendan Manuscript.

In 1976 Tim Severin built a currach and using a stepping stone path across the North Atlantic, he stopped at the Aran Islands, Hebrides, Faroes and even Iceland to prove the small, but durable currach was capable of making the trip.

Well, that’s the story.

May the worst thing in your day be a blessing and drink with care this St. Patrick’s day. Remember, you cannot drink all day, unless you start in the morning.

William Russeth

Author “Fires of Belenus” Wings ePress, http://www.wings-press.com/

Check out my website for excerpts and info.
http://mysite.verizon.net/resr5omo/whrhomepage

1 comment:

Infogypsy said...

Hi William - On the Irish, my mean ole grandmother always told me we were Orange Irish - I'm not sure what that is but I think it might be Protestant religion. I love all things Scots or Irish - love the music especially!
Lynn Romaine
www.lynnromaine.com
www.ecosuspense.blogspot.com