Hy-Brasil

Hy-Brasil is the name of a legendary island in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland. Its etymology is uncertain, possibly stemming from Gaelic tradition, particularly from "Uí Breasail," meaning "descendants of Breasail," one of the ancient clans settled in Northern Ireland.

For centuries, its existence was considered certain, so much so that cartographers continued to depict it until 1865. Stories about the mysterious island circulated throughout Europe, with some identifying it as a supernatural and enchanted place, others as the invisible seat of a superior civilization. It was described as being surrounded by mists or submerged in the ocean except for one day every seven years when it would become visible.

There were many alleged sightings and travel accounts by sailors and adventurers who claimed to have visited it. The mystery of Hy-Brasil's existence remains intact, though it may be illuminated by some scientific clues. We refer to the expedition of the Porcupine, the vessel that in 1862 led to the discovery of a cold-water coral reef off the west coast of Ireland.

This interesting submerged formation—dubbed Porcupine Bank—suggested the fascinating hypothesis that it might indeed be the "intermittent" island that sailors had identified with Hy-Brasil for centuries.