estant times, was formerly held there on this
day.

16--St. Brendan or Brandan, Abbot, A.D. 577.

He was born in Ireland, and in early youth became the disciple of St.
Jarlaath, of Tuam. He afterwards crossed over to Britain, and spent
some years in the Abbey of Llancarvan, in Glamorganshire, where he is
said to have baptised Machutus, whose name (under the French form of
Malo), is cherished still as that of one of the apostles of Brittany.

Returning to Ireland, St. Brendan founded several monasteries, the
most important of them {80} being that of Clonfert, on the Shannon.
He is said to have had as many as three thousand monks under him in
his various foundations. The saint was also closely connected with
Scotland, where he founded monasteries; it is thought that one was in
Bute and the other in Tiree. His many dedications are an indication
of Scottish devotion to him, Kilbrannan (Church of St. Brandan) in
Mull, Kilbrandon in the Isle of Seil, Boyndie in Banffshire, Birnie
in Moray and Kilbirnie in Ayrshire (where the saint's fair is held on
May 28th--16th old style) are some of these. At Kilbirnie is St.
Birnie's Well; another named after this saint is in Barra. Another
fair, granted in 1474, was held on this day at Inverary
(Argyllshire). There is a ruined chapel bearing his name on St.
Kilda.

St. Brendan's name is associated with wonderful narratives--probably
dating long after his time--of his voyages towards the west; they
possibly contain some little truth mixed up with much that is
entirely fabulous. It is beyond doubt that St. Brendan and his
companions in their missionary voyages sailed to {81} regions
hitherto unknown to the mariners of the time; it has even been
maintained that they actually touched the American shore. However
this may be, the tradition of the discoveries of the saint, familiar
to every country in Europe, kept in mind the possibly existing
western land, and issued at last in the discovery of the American
continent by Columbus.

A curious custom in connection with St. Brendan existed up to almost
recent times. When they wished for a favourable wind the fishermen
would cry repeatedly: _Brainuilt!_ The word seems to be a contraction
of _Breanainn-Sheoladair_ ("Brendan the Voyager"), and was originally
an invocation of the saint. The feast of St. Brendan has been
restored to the Scottish Calendar.

17--St. Gathan, Bishop, 6th century.
This saint was probably of Irish nationality. He