In Ireland, there’s a legend about a strange island. This is the island of Hy-Brasil, also spelled Hy-Brazil or Hi-Brasil. Associated with countless myths and intriguing tales, it is little short of the equivalent of lost Atlantis… and its existence has yet to be proven! Nevertheless, its stories and legends have made it a place of dreams for lovers of mysterious islands. Many are still looking for it, dreamers and researchers alike!
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Although never actually observed, the island of Hy-Brasil is generally described in a similar way in the stories and legends that tell of it.
It is located in the Atlantic Ocean, west of the west coast of Ireland.
The island is generally described as lush and verdant, covered with meadows and dense forests. It would be a place of outstanding natural beauty, wild and unspoilt, with impressive cliffs, beaches, lakes and miles of wild moorland. A little Ireland of sorts!
However, it would be difficult to reach: firstly, because it would be surrounded by a thick mystical fog.
But that’s not all! One of Hy-Brasil’s most intriguing characteristics is that it only appears in human view every seven years, then retreats into the mists to escape discovery. This belief has contributed to the legend of the island that “disappears”.
Although wild, legend has it that the island is home to a welcoming, technologically advanced people. Friendly and pacifist, this population would be self-sufficient, endowed with great intelligence and a culture in its own right.
Something to capture the imagination!
The first references to the island of Hy-Brasil date back to the 14th century, although the legend probably has older roots in Irish folklore. Here are some of the earliest historical and literary references to the island of Hy-Brasil:
Although many people have searched for Hy-Brasil over the centuries, no concrete proof of its existence has yet been found.
Researchers and scientists have put forward several theories to explain the legend of Hy-Brasil.
Some suggest it could be linked to atmospheric mirages, while others think it could be based on distant real islands in the Atlantic. So, real islands could have welcomed sailors, who would have mistaken it for a new island: Hy-Brasil. Confusion was easy in those days: maps were far less precise in the Middle Ages than they are today!
Nevertheless, although the mystery remains, the local population likes to call it the “Irish Atlantis”: although unproven, it continues to inspire dreams and fuel theories about its existence! Many Irish people tell children epic tales about Hy-Brasil, making it the perfect haven for dreams and imagination!
