The village of Sandur ("Sand") on Sandoy Island ("Sand Island") in the Faroes has a sheltered sandy beach. Archaeological finds suggest settlement at least by the 11th century.
Navigatio Brendani 6.7:
vīdērunt rīpam altissimam sīcut mūrum, et dīversōs rīvulōs dēscendentēs dē summitāte īnsulae, fluentēs in mare.
It has been argued that island that best fits the description is Vagar, which has both cliffs and rivulets.
Navigatio Brendani 6.6:
appāruit illīs quaedam īnsula ex parte septentriōnālī, valdē saxōsa et alta.
Cliffs on the coast of Suduroy, one of the larger Faroe Islands. Although the west coast of Ireland is famous for its steep cliffs, it has been observed that the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetlands mostly have low-lying coastlines and that only the Faroes have islands that are truly "very rocky and high."
The "beehive huts" on the monastery on the small island of Skellig Michael, off the coast of Kerry, are the most famous examples of medieval monastic cells. Stone huts ("clochans") were common in the west of Ireland where timber was scarce.
Navigatio Brendani 1.10:
occurrērunt obviam, sīcut exāmen apum, ex dīversīs cellulīs, frātrēs.
A map of County Kerry, in the south west corner of Ireland. Loch Leane is in the center, Near Killarney.
Ireland is traditionally divided into four provinces (Munster, Connaught, Ulster, and Leinster); they were originally four kingdoms. Brendan was from the ruling family in the Kingdom of Munster, the Eoganacht.
The west portal of Clonfert Cathedral (c. 1200), with Romanesque sculpture.
This chalice, dating to c. 750 CE, is considered one of the most impressive examples of medieval Irish metalwork; it is made from silver, copper and bronze, with decorations in gold and enamel. It was found in 1868 in an Irish ringfort in Reerasta, near Ardagh, Co. Limerick.
Tim Severin's reconstruction of Brendan's currach is preserved at the Craggowen Open Air Museum at Sixmilebridge, County Clare. Many thanks to Adrienne O'Flynn for sending us the image.
