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SAN BORONDON - the ghost island
This is the canarian name of St. Brendan from Clonfert (480-576). He was an irish monk who played the leading role in one of the most famous legends of celtic culture. He went on a journey to the promised holy land, the island of happiness and wealth.
With some other monks he travelled out in the Atlantic ocean, in an old and fragile boat. After a while they encountered firespitting demons, floating columns of crystal and monsters big as islands.
They landed on an island where they found trees and other kinds of vegetation. They held a mass and suddenly the island started sailing. It turned into a gigantic seamonster, and they were on top of his back. After many similar events they returned to Ireland.
During the conquest of the canarian islands in the 1400's, there were many stories about an 8th island that could sometimes be seen west of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. But when the sailors tried to reach the island it got covered with mist and disappeared.
This island got associated with the island St. Brendan found, and was therefore called San Borondon by the canarians. People really believed this island excisted, and there are detailed descriptions given from some sailors who swored they had been on the island before it disappeared. You can even find old maps of the island in Museo Canario, located in Las Palmas, the capitol of Gran Canaria.
This legend is very much alive, still today. And don't be surprised if you talk to some old fishermen who will tell you stories about people who have seen this island...
Map of San Borondon
