20th December 2012: The International Committee for the safeguard of the breton language has published a tribute to Yann Fouéré in the form of a booklet, in 3 languages.

For further details Click on link to ABP article below

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27th/28th October 2012: Erwan Fouéré in front of the 6 Nations’ Celtic League Flag, the Breton and the European Union Flags at the IDBE/Fondation Yann Fouéré stand, for the Salon du Livre in Carhaix. See the French site for link to interview with Erwan Fouéré and more details on the Salon du Livre in Carhaix.

Also on the same occasion the presentation of the new French edition of the 3rd Volume of Yann Fouéré’s autobiography ‘En Prison pour le FLB’ with a preface by Erwan Fouéré –

Translated into English on this site .

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The Fouéré Family invites you to join them at the anniversary Mass that will be celebrated in memory of Yann Fouéré, who passed away on 20th October 2011, at the Basilica of Notre Dame de Bon Secours in Guingamp, on Friday the 19th October 2012 at 18h.

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26th July – Yann Fouéré’s Birthday – a tribute in Guingamp:-

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July 2012:-See the French site under ‘ACTUALITÉS’ for commentaries on the Celtic Congress on 23rd July, organised by Kendalc’h in Guingamp.

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The following 3 tributes were translated into French for a Special Edition on Yann Fouéré of the journal ‘L’Avenir de la Bretagne’, in February 2012.

Click on the title:- ‘IMPRISONED FOR HIS PEOPLE’ – to read a tribute to Yann Fouere by Dafydd Wigley, Hon. President of Plaid Cymru

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Click on the title: – ‘Yann Fouéré – 20thCentury Man?‘ – to read a tribute by Rhisiart Talbot from the Celtic League.

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Click on the title: – ‘An Honest Man, in Politics as in Business‘, – to read a tribute by Maurice O’Scanaill.

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For other Obituaries in French and Flemish – See our French site under ACTUALITÉS and 1.b) Y.F. Nécrologies.

N0. 151 of CARN – winter 2011/12 – Obituary of Yann Fouéré by Padrig Delorme, translated from French, and article on 5oth AGM of Celtic League on 29th October, attended by Erwan Fouéré.

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9th January 2012: Appreciation of Yann Fouéré in ‘Irish Times’, written by Maurice O’Scanaill.

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Below is the message of Welcome to the Memorial Mass, by Yann Fouéré’s eldest son, Jean:-

On behalf of my family I would like to welcome and thank you all for coming here today to pay your respects to my father who died last month and was buried in Brittany. Our thoughts will also go out to our mother, Marie Magdaleine, now 94 and unable to travel.

Most of you here will have known my father as Sean Mauger, a businessman, a shellfish buyer and exporter, ‘the Frenchman’ to some people, a family man with 5 children. But he was much more than that.
He was born Yann Fouere in 1910.
In his student days he espoused the cause of Breton nationalism and campaigned and organized tirelessly for the Breton language and culture, and it’s economic and political freedoms.
After studying law in Paris he followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the French Civil Service, rising through the ranks in the Ministry of the Interior, eventually being appointed Deputy Prefect of the Finistere region in Brittany, a post he later resigned from to work full time on his Breton activities.
To that end he founded and directed two regional newspapers, promoted and participated in numerous committees, organisations, regional assemblies and political movements, all of which strove to bring about acceptance by the French authorities of at least some measure of home rule for the Breton people.
Throughout his life he has written and published over 1000 articles and 16 books on Breton politics and European Federalism. The Federalism he promotes is not one of large Nation States but of minority groups and frequently unrepresented peoples, such as Bretons, Scots, Irish, Welsh, Basques etc. His major work on this theme (Europe of the 100 Flags) is now an academic textbook.
It was perhaps a measure of his success that his activities very soon brought down on him the implacable hostility of the centralist French state and its apologists.
They have repeatedly persecuted, arrested, imprisoned, calumnied and harassed him, even to his grave. ( A pro-government newspaper in Brittany actually refused last month to print his Death Notice!)
It was to escape from the first of these persecutions that he fled after the war to find safety, first to Wales where Welsh nationalists gave him refuge and then to Ireland in 1948.
After trying various activities to survive and support his family, including selling homemade pâtés produced in his kitchen to Dublin grocery shops and teaching French in Bro. Philip’s Glenstal Abbey, he eventually settled here in Connemara and developed the shellfish business known to you all.
It is fitting that in return for the sanctuary, the welcome and the livelihood that Ireland and this community have afforded him, he in turn was able to repay them by developing export markets for hundreds of small lobster and crawfish fishermen all along the West Coast.
In the 1950′ and 60’s, by making judicious use of Shannon Airport, which was then a major re-fuelling hub for transatlantic flights connecting directly into all major European cities, he was able to open up new markets in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain and France among others.
These exports provided a valuable input to local fishing communities at a time of general economic depression.

It is difficult to telescope 101 years of an active and dedicated life into a few paragraphs, but I hope these few words have given you a better understanding of who my father was.
He sacrificed much for his ideals and they have survived him. They will be a source of inspiration to future generations of Breton and other oppressed minorities
Like all men he had his faults and his failings, but he had a vision and he has made us all very proud of him.

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Farewell message by Yann Fouéré’s daughter Benig.

Although our father was a man of the world, he understood at an intuitive level, things that are not accessible through the mind. He understood for example, the fragile boundary between life and death, and that time is only an illusion. His years of ‘exile’ here in Connemara, taught him in a visceral way, how land and animal are deeply entwined in the heart of man, and he grew to love this part of the world, and his ‘house in the wilderness, battered by the wind’. As a child born and bought up here, I learnt similarly, that the land, the sea and the animals were part of my soul and I know that I too, when my time comes, will visit our beloved home and dance over Omey Island, here in Claddaghduff.

As a fellow writer, I share with you now, my final tribute to Sean Mauger, my beloved father.

The Final Farewell

The boundary between life and death is not defined and there is a thin veil between this world and the next. And ‘why should the souls of the departed not return to the places where they lived?’ you asked, as you sat in your office overlooking the twelve Bens and the wild Atlantic. Proud of the home you had built on the edge of the sea, you experienced the spell that falls over everyone who sets foot here in Connemara, where time doesn’t count. The beauty of the ever changing land; counting lobsters in the sunset mauve sky; and the gentle hum of the outboard motor as we snaked a path home through the oily calmness of the sea. These memories will remain with us. You understood too, the fierceness and unpredictability of nature, as you tied yourself with rope to anchor down to safety all that might perish in the storm. The veil between this world and the next is never as thin as in our Western Paradise where the mysteries of Omey Island calls all spirits who lived here, you knew this too: ‘As for myself’, you wrote, ‘My grave is already prepared in Brittany, but I will probably be found at nightfall, haunting these far western strands, after I have fallen into the deep sleep’.

The world of dancing spirits is where you are now. You have left us sad and bereft, and entered the timeless space of spirits-We pray that you have been welcomed there and that you sleep well. But we ask of you, our beloved Papa, that you look down on us and guide us when we stumble on our path, and that you remember to visit those who loved you and let your spirit dance on Omey Island again, so that we may keep your wisdom in our minds, your courage in our hearts and most of all, that we may never let go of what we believe in. Thank you, thank you, thank you. God speed, farewell, until we all meet again in the big place in the sky.

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The following is a translation of the epitaph Yann Fouéré had composed for inscription on his headstone, which was read at the end of the Mass by his great-granddaughter Mara Barrett.

ADIEU

It is only my body you place in the earth

The echo of my struggles I leave with you;

For neither exile, prison, fear nor war

Could prevent me, and will not prevent you.

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19th and 25th November: In ‘Connaught Tribune’ re. the Memorial Mass.

A Memorial Mass for

YANN FOUÉRÉ (SEAN MAUGER)

will take place at midday on Sunday 27th November

at Star of the Sea Church, Claddaghduff, Co.Galway.

Yann Fouéré, Docteur en droit, licencié en lettres et diplômé en sciences politiques,

Knight of the Sovereign Order of Jerusalem,

journalist, author, manager of Cleggan Lobster Fisheries,

life-long advocate of Breton and other minority rights in a Federalist Europe,

founder of the Movement for the Organisation of Brittany and other political and cultural movements in Brittany,

co-founder of the Celtic League and the European Free Alliance,

died on 20th October 2011 at the age of 101.

Fondly remembered by his wife Marie-Magdeleine,

his children and their spouses:

Rozenn and Jim, John and Danielle, Erwan, Benig and Patricio, Olwen and David;

his grandchildren: Yola,Annig,Kareen,Benjamin,Tristan,Oisin,Annick,Jamie;

his great grandchildren: Brittany,Asher,Mara,Tiana;

his cousins, nephews, nieces and extended family in Ireland, Brittany and elsewhere.

Funeral ceremony took place on 25 October in the basilica of Notre Dame de Bon Secours, Guingamp,Brittany.

Click on photos below to enlarge:-

Photos of Claddaghduff Church before the Mass. The six Celtic nations Flag on right in center photo. The Breton flag with Harpist from Brittany in 3rd photo.

Below is the Homily by Fr. Philip Tierney, O.S.B., at the Memorial Mass.

Not all of us are called to be centenarians, not all of us are called to live passionate and action-filled lives, not all of us are called to spend half our days in exile – however pleasant – for a just and absorbing cause. Yanne Fouere was.

Each of us has his or her own interpretation of what it is that drives the human spirit – what makes us tick – . Is it just vanity or ambition, self-seeking or self-sacrifice? Perhaps none of our motives as we perceive them are pure and unalloyed – so honed that we filter out the dross and leave the noble aspirations to stand alone. It is a complex issue with many layers of conflicting claims because the human heart and mind are assailed on all sides by pressures from without and from within, conscious and unconscious. As Christians we are called on to live our lives with the ever-present awareness of the finite nature of our short existence and the infinite unknown mystery of eternity. The gospel reading of to-day, the first Sunday in Advent, tells us to stay awake – to be on your guard. In other words, we are reminded of our frail but certain mortality and the uncertainty of the future. Life is like a passing shadow. Some of us agonize on a daily basis about this inevitable and unattractive prospect, but I suspect that most of us just manage to keep ourselves so busy and so occupied that the noise and bustle of life provide us with an antidote to this challenging and chilling reality. But live we must, and if we are true to ourselves we have to cherish and abide by principles that we regard as sacred – and we have to hold values that give meaning to, and make sense of, an otherwise absurd world. Sometimes we resemble waterless clouds or shooting stars – the one tossed about by every whim and fancy and the other darting in all directions at a speed of knots. There is no doubt where Yanne Fouere stood. Faith was his firm anchor and throughout his long, difficult and challenging life he remained alert and awake.

Time and tide wait for no man – for some, time is fleeting and elusive, for others it is monotonous and never-ending. Our first reading is a little poem – a sketch – about time and the rhythms of life. In summary, it suggests that there is a right time for everything “to be born and to die, to sow and to reap”. Ecclesiastes draws our attention to the balance, to the essential orderliness, of man’ various activities – it is not just chance or a game of Russian roulette. True, God created the universe out of chaos but the chaotic is not an essential part of life’s journey.

Nor was it for Yanne Fouere. It was, indeed, unpredictable, often unpalatable, but never a matter for despair because the Creator of all still had his hand on the rudder. The sea may have been rough and unfriendly, the elements wild and out of control but the harbour remained a goal to be reached, a shelter and a haven of rest and peace.

Like St Paul in our second reading “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day – and not only to me but to all who have longed for his appearing”. Yanne Fouere soldiered through life’s vicissitudes, coped with the trials of life with pride and dignity and now he has come into the place of rest “where there is neither pain nor sorrow”.

May he rest in peace.

Poster which was at entrance of the Church and another below the lectern, with photo of coffin after Funeral Service in Brittany.

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18th November 2011: Below is the link to an Obituary in the Herald Scotland, under the title ‘Pan-European Celt and Breton Nationalist’.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/comment/obituaries/yann-fouere-1.1135512

14th November 2011 : Below is the link to an Obituary by Meic Stephens in the Independent (UK) newspaper.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/yann-four-breton-militant-and-european-federalist-6261734.html

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November 2011:- Below is the link to a Communiqué by the Celtic League on ‘Prominent Breton Nationalist and League Founder Remembered’.

http://www.abp.bzh/fetch.php?id=23872

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Link to Obituary in the Welsh language weekly ‘Golwg’:-

http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/cymru/56109-y-cenedlaetholwr-o-lydaw-yann-fouere-yn-marw-yn-101-oed

October 24th 2011: Translation of Obituary in the Welsh language weekly ‘Golwg’.

Below is the link for the Wales/Brittany Society website:-

http://cymru-llydaw.blogspot.com/2011/10/marwolaeth-yann-fouere-yn-101-oed.html

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Notice of Decease of Yann Fouéré on 20th October 2011 at the age of 101 years old.

YANN FOUÉRÉ

Docteur en droit, licencié en lettres et diplômé en sciences politiques,

Knight of the Sovereign Order of Jerusalem,

journalist,writer,manager of shellfish business,

life-long advocate of Breton and other minority rights in a Federalist Europe,

founder of the Movement for the Organisation of Brittany and other political and cultural movements in Brittany,

co-founder of the Celtic League and the European Free Alliance,

died at the age of 101,

fondly remembered by his wife, Marie-Magdeleine,

his children and their spouses – Rozenn and Jim,John and Danielle, Erwan,Benig and Patricio,Olwen and David; his grandchildren-Yola,Annig,Kareen,Benjamin, Tristan,Oisín,Annik,Jamie;

his great grandchildren-Brittany,Asher,Mara,Tianna; his cousins, nephews and extended family in Ireland,Brittany and elsewhere.

Funeral ceremony takes place on 25th October in the basilica of Notre Dame de Bon Secours, Guingamp,Brittany.

A Memorial Service will take place in Claddaghduff Parish Church,Co.Galway at 12 noon on 27^th November.

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Age Is Not A Barrier

Source : Celtic League

Porte parole:

Publié le 26/09/11 12:10

MANX —

With a book launch in Ireland in July and another in Wales last week, one of the founding members of the Celtic League, Yann Fouéré, is proving that age is no barrier in keeping the Celtic spirit alive.

Despite being 101 years old, Mr Fouéré, who was one of the founding members of the Celtic League in 1961, has been launching his autobiography internationally this year, firstly in Clifden, Co Galway, Ireland in July and last week in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales. `La Maison’ in Connemara’ is set in the three Celtic countries of Breizh (Brittany), Cymru (Wales) and Éire (Ireland), where Mr Fouéré each spent varying amounts of time. Mr Fouéré’s daughter, Rozenn Fouéré, is still in frequent contact with the Celtic League and invited representatives from the organisation to the book launch on 16th September.

16th September 2011:- Link and article with photo below on the launch, in ‘Y Cymro’ – a Welsh-language weekly:

http://www.y-cymro.com/llyfrau/i/595/desc/cyfraniad-sylweddol-i-ddiwylliant-y-gwledydd-celtaidd/

Llyfrau

16 Medi 2011

Cyfraniad sylweddol i ddiwylliant y gwledydd Celtaidd

LANSIR cofiant Llydäwr di-ildio a orfodwyd i ffoi i Gymru ac yna’r Iwerddon yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Aberystwyth heno.

La Maison – The History of a Breton yw ail gyfrol Yann Fouéré. Bu’n un o sefydlwyr ‘Ar Brezhoneg er Skol’ yn 1934 er mwyn hyrwyddo dysgu Llydaweg a hanes Llydaw yn yr ysgolion ar adeg pan waharddwyd hynny gan Ffrainc.

Yn ystod y Rhyfel bu’n olygydd ar ddau bapur Llydewig, La Bretagne a Dépêche de Brest ac yn aelod o Comité Consultatif de Bretagne, corff ymgynghorol ar hawliau Llydewig a roddodd beth hawliau ym maes dysgu iaith a hanes Llydaw.

Gyda diwedd y Rhyfel arestiwyd miloedd o Lydäwyr oedd wedi bod yn weithgar mewn mudiadau ieithyddol a diwylliannol.

Yn yr hinsawdd yma ffodd Yann Fouéré i Baris ac yna i Gymru o dan basbort ffug. Yng Nghymru cafodd loches gan DJ Davies a’i wraig Noelle yn Y Fenni gan symud ymlaen i aros gyda Gwynfor Evans yn Llangadog, DJ Williams yn Abergwaun, Gwenallt yn Aberystwyth a’r diweddar Delwyn Phillips o Aberystwyth ond a oedd yn byw ym Mirmingham ar y pryd.

Er iddo ganfod gwaith yn dysgu Ffrangeg yn y Brifysgol yn Abertawe bu’n rhaid iddo ffoi unwaith eto i’r Iwerddon er mwyn osgoi cael ei gosbi gan y Ffrancwyr.

Canfyddodd ffoaduriaid Llydewig eraill yn yr Iwerddon ac yn y pendraw cydsefydlodd fusnes llwyddiannus yn ffermio ac allforio cimychiaid yn ardal Connemara yng ngorllewin y wlad.

Mae Yann Fouéré bellach yn 101 oed ac yn byw yn Sant Brieg, gefeilldref Aberystwyth. Yn 1958 fe’i difeiwyd gan lys ym Mharis o’r holl gyhuddiadau a wnaed yn ei erbyn yn dilyn y Rhyfel.

Mae ei gyfraniad i wleidyddiaeth a diwylliant Llydaw a’r gwledydd Celtaidd wedi bod yn sylweddol. Roedd yn gyfrannwr cyson i bapurau yn yr Iwerddon, Gwlad Belg a Phrydain (yn aml dan ffugenwau).

Ymhlith ei waith mwyaf adnabyddus a dylanwadol mae L’Europe aux Cents Drapeaux a gyhoeddwyd yn 1968 ac a chyfieithwyd i’r Saesneg fel Towards a Federal Europe yn 1980.

Ceir llawer o wybodaeth amdano ac erthyglau ganddo ar wefan Fondation Yann Fouéré: http://www.fondationyannfouere.org/

Cyfieithwyd La Maison – The History of a Breton gan ei ferch, Rozenn Fouéré Barrett. Ac fe’i cyhoeddir gan Old Chapel Press o’r Iwerddon. Bydd hi ai brawd, Erwan, yn y lansiad yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol. Arweinir y noson gan Dafydd Wigley. Dyma fydd un o’i ddigwyddiadau olaf fel Llywydd y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol.
Lansiad La Maison – The History of a Breton, 6.30 nos Wener, 16 Medi, Y Drwm, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Aberystwyth. Tocynnau am ddim: www.llgc.org.uk/drwm.

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16th September 2011: During Lord Dafydd Wigley’s presentation of ‘La Maison in Connemara’, with large photo of Yann Fouéré in background, and two of his children, Rozenn and Erwan, below it. Photo taken by Annig Barrett.Click on the photo to enlarge it. A recording of the event will be posted on the site shortly.

Click on activated line below to read the :-

Text of Havard Gregory’s tribute to Yann Fouéré

and on the link below for Rhisiart Hincks Welsh translation of this text:-

http://cymru-llydaw.blogspot.com/

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Links below to the Press Release, on the National Library of Wales website, regarding the Book Launch :-

English – http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=160
Welsh – http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=160&L=1

English text below:-

Yann Fouéré – The History of a Breton

Mon, 12 Sep 11 16:11:00

The memoirs of an incorrigible Breton writer, activist and polemist who sought refuge in Wales and then Ireland will be launched at The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, on Friday 16 September 2011.

La Maison – The History of a Breton is the second part of the memoirs of Yann Fouéré who was born in 1910. He was an active Breton language campaigner and founded Ar Brezhoneg er Skol in 1934, which aimed to promote the teaching of Breton and Breton history in Breton schools – subjects which were banned at the time by the French authorities. He also founded and edited two newspapers, La Bretagne and Dépêche de Brest during the War. He was also a member of Comité Consultatif de Bretagne, an assembly set up to advise upon Breton rights, and thanks to which many positive changes were made, particularly in the spheres of teaching Breton language and history.

At the end of the War, the French authorities arrested thousands of Bretons who’d attempted to promote Breton language and culture. In 1946 he fled to Paris and then Wales under a false passport. In Wales he stayed a short while with DJ Davies and his Irish wife, Noelle near Abergavenny, moving on to stay with Gwynfor Evans in Llangadog and DJ Williams in Fishguard and the poet Gwenallt in Aberystwyth. He also stayed with the late Delwyn Phillips of Aberystwyth when Delwyn lived and worked in Birmingham. Despite finding work as a French tutor at Swansea university he was forced to flee to Ireland to avoid prosecution by the French authorities. In Ireland he found other Breton refugees and ultimately settled in Connemara in Western Ireland, where he co-founded and developed a successful lobster farm.

Yann Fouéré, who is still alive, is now 101 years old and lives in St Brieuc – Aberystwyth’s twin town in Brittany. He was exonerated of all charges against him by a French tribunal in 1955. His political and cultural contribution to Breton and Celtic life has been substantial. He was a regular contributor to daily newspapers in Ireland, Belgium and the UK (very often under pseudonyms). His most famous and influential work was the publication of ‘L’Europe aux Cents Drapeaux’ in 1968 which has been through several editions and was translated into English as Towards a Federal Europe’ in 1980. Many of his articles can be read on the Fondation Yann Fouéré website: www.fondationyannfouere.org

La Maison in Connemara – The History of a Breton was translated from the original French by his daughter, Rozenn Fouéré Barrett. The book is published by Old Chapel Press in Ireland. Rozenn and her brother, Erwan, will be at the launch at the National Library. The event will be chaired by Dafydd Wigley, as one of his last public functions as President of the National Library of Wales.

Book Launch: La Maison in Connemara – The History of a Breton
6.30pm Friday 16 September 2011
Drwm, The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Free admission, tickets from: www.llgc.org.uk/drwm

La Maison in Connemara – The History of a Breton
ISBN 978-0-9560062-2-6, (www.oldchapelpress.net)
Foundation Yann Fouere Website: www.fondationyannfouere.org

For further information:
Siôn Jobbins, NLW Press Office: 01970 632902 post@llgc.org.uk

You are warmly invited to the launch of

‘La Maison’

CONNEMARA

by Yann Fouéré

www.fondationyannfouere.org

The fascinating autobiography of a Breton nationalist

and European Federalist who settled on Connemara’s Atlantic coast,

To be launched by

The Right Honourable Dafydd Wigley
President of The National Library of Wales
in

The Drwm, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

September 16^that 6.30 p.m

July 2011: Article in CARN on ‘Reflections’ of Surviving Founders of the CELTIC LEAGUE on its 50th anniversary – also on the coming book launch in Wales of ‘La Maison’ in Connemara.

Click on the link below to view a short mention in Welsh of the Welsh launch on 16th September, at the National Library in Aberystwyth, on the Wales-Brittany blog.

http://cymru-llydaw.blogspot.com

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Below is a link to an article on the Book Launch in Clifden.

http://heritageconnemara.org/page14.html

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June 2011: Photo and Article by Eamonn McLoughlin on the launch of the new book, presented by Maurice O’Scanaíll at the Station House Theatre in Clifden, Co.Galway.

Click on activated line below to read:-

Text of Maurice O’Scanaill’s presentation

June 2011: Article by Des Kenny on the new book under ‘Biblio: A monthly review of books’ in the Galway Advertiser.

The following is an article on the book launch of the new book on The Celtic League website:

http://www.celticleague.net/news/autobiography-of-league-founding-member/

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LEAGUE FOUNDING MEMBER

The autobiography of a founding member of the Celtic League will be launched this summer in Ireland to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the organisation.

`La Maison’ in Connemara’ by Yann Fouéré will be launched at The Station House Theatre, Clifden, Co Galway on 3rd July, with further plans for it to be launched at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth later in the year. The autobiography is set in the three Celtic countries of Breizh (Brittany), Cymru (Wales) and Éire (Ireland), where Mr Fouéré each spent varying amounts of time.
Mr Fouéré first moved to Cymru from Breizh where he sought refuge after the war, along with many other Breton nationalists, before settling in Connemara, Éire.

In the book Mr Fouéré describes his life in the Celtic countries where he lived, but focuses on his life in Connemara where he built up a lobster and crayfish business and built a house for his family. The press notice with the book reads:

“This is a fundamental document on a part of history that is still often misunderstood. The author, Yann Fouéré, has written with much attention to detail and portrays a great love of Connemara and its people, and this book has been painstakingly translated from the original French by his daughter Rozenn Fouéré Barrett. Yann Fouéré celebrates his 101st birthday in Brittany this
year!”

For readers who are interested in reading more about this period of history,`Fugitive Ireland: European minority nationalists and Irish political asylum, 1937 – 2008′ by Daniel Leach was published in 2009 and highlights how many Breton nationalists were given temporary or permanent refuge in Ireland.

Yann Fouéré is only one of two founding members of the Celtic League who are still alive, Seamus Filbin from Scotland being the other member.

This article written for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League. For follow-up comment or clarification contact:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209315884
M: 0044(0)7787318666

rhisiart.talebot@…
gensec@…

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League

16/05/11

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues.

TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/

April 2011: ‘La Maison’ in Connemara – English translation just published by Oldchapel Press, Oldchapel, Oughterard, Co.Galway, Republic of Ireland – www.oldchapelpress.net – can also be ordered from www.kennys.ie

BOOK LAUNCH IN STATION HOUSE THEATRE, FRIDAY JUNE 3^rd at 6.30 p.m., presented by Maurice O’Scanaill MRCVS.

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A very special day – July 26th 2010, Yann Fouéré’s 100th birthday, which was celebrated on 25th July at the Chateau de Quintin.

Photo taken by Olwen Fouéré.

Click on the following link in order to view part of the event – translation of the text can be obtained by clicking on the symbol at the bottom of the article:-

http://www.abp.bzh/fetch.php?id=19243

The following is a Press Release:-

A CELEBRATION FOR YANN FOUÉRÉ’S 100TH BIRTHDAY WAS HELD ON 25TH JULY 2010 AT THE CHATEAU DE QUINTIN.

All those closely or remotely working towards maintaining a Breton identity are already aware of the life and work of the patriarch of the Breton and European Federalist movements: Yann Fouéré, an exceptional person, who has given and sacrificed everything for his country, Brittany.

Well over a hundred guests and all his family were reunited to attend the event at which Yann himself had not expected to attend for health reasons.

Hence there was much emotion, just after the introductory video, when the centenarian was wheeled into the hall to attend the ceremony and hear the various testimonies. The first, on behalf of the family, was his son Erwan, EU Ambassador to Macedonia, who spoke on the life of his father, and also directed the ceremony. He was followed by Mme Maufray, the Mayor of Evran, paying tribute to the first centenarian from Evran, where the paternal roots of the Fouéré family go back over 4 centuries. Then Per Lemoine, a lifelong friend, praised the determining role played by this fervent defender of Brittany and of European Federalism, untiringly throughout his life.

He was followed in succession by Gérard Gautier, politician and writer, Mériadec Gouyon de Matignon, faithful companion in working for the Breton cause, Michel Chauvin, President of the Music and Dance section of the Institut Culturel de Bretagne, who also paid tribute to him. Mr. Chauvin was the producer and organiser of the musical part of the ceremony, represented by 4 harpists. The final tribute came from Youenn Craff, a Breton translator. Breton bagpipe and shawm players welcomed the guests on arrival at the chateau and animated the intervals. The family had decorated the large hall with all the flags of the European Minorities, according to Yann Fouéré’s wishes. (cf:www.eurominority.eu)

Exceptionally, his 5 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, resident in various parts of the world, had gathered for this unique occasion.

His wife, Marie Madeleine Mauger was absent for health reasons, but her presence was in the hearts of all the family.

His great granddaughter, Tianna, the youngest of the family, presented a slideshow of photos representing the life of her great grandfather. Part of the event can already be seen on the Fondation website, – fondationyannfouere.org – which will also soon have photos and more recordings.

The celebration will remain as an exceptional event in the memories of all – an opportunity to pay tribute to a great Breton militant and European Federalist, whose various books such as ‘Towards a Federal Europe’,(‘L’Europe aux cent drapeaux’), ‘La Bretagne écartelée’, and also his autobiographies, ‘La Patrie Interdite and ‘La Maison du Connemara’, and many more need no introduction.

His memory and his work will continue, according to his wishes, through his Fondation, and his ‘Institut de documentation bretonne et européenne’,(open to researchers and historians), where all his archives , his works as also his library are being assembled.

September 28th 2010: Article in Irish on Yann Fouéré’s 100th, in ‘The Irish Times’ under Home News, page 6, by Séamas Mac Philib.

The following is the original article and Translation into English by Eibhlin Hession:-

Tá Yann Fouéré 100 bliain anois.

Yann Foueré is 100 years old now.

Cheiliúir Yann Fouéré an céadú lá breithe aige le gairid i gcaisleán taibhsiúil bhaile álainn Quintin i gceart-lár na Briotáine. Cé go bhfuil Yann ar ais ina chónaí sa Bhriotáin le roinnt mhaith blianta, tá cuimhne go fóill air in Éirinn as bheith ar a theitheadh anseo i ndiaidh an dara cogadh domhanda agus as an mbaint a bhí aige ar feadh a shaoil le náisiúnachas na Briotáine. Bhí amhras ann an mbeadh Yann in ann an ócáid a bhaint amach ar chor ar bith i ngeall ar a shláinte, ach bhain, agus é ina chathaoir rothaí. Bhí a chlann ar fad i láthair, Rozenn, Erwan, John, Olwen agus Benig. Faraor ní raibh a bhean Marie-Madeleine Mauger in ann a bheith ann ar an lá i ngeall ar chúrsaí sláinte.

Yann Fouéré celebrated his one hundredth birthday recently in a ghostly castle of the lovely town of Quintin in the heart of Brittany. Even though Yann is back living in Brittany for quite a few years, he still remembers Ireland as he escaped here after the Second World War and from his involvement throughout his life with Breton nationalism. There was concern about whether Yann would be able to attend the occasion at all due to his health, but he did, and in his wheelchair. All of his family where in attendance, Rozenn, Erwan, John, Olwen and Benig. Unfortunately, his wife Marie-Madeleine Mauger was unable to be there on the day due to health reasons.

B’éigean do Yann teitheadh in 1946 go dtí an Bhreatain Bheag agus ina dhiaidh sin go hÉirinn. Bhí ról tábhachtach aige i rith bhlianta an chogaidh chun stádas na Briotáine agus na Briotáinise a bhrú ar aghaidh, ach tarraingíodh droch-cháil ar náisiúnachas na Briotáine de bharr go háirithe an dreama bhig a throid i bpáirt leis na Gearmáinigh i gcoinne an Résistance. Ag am an Libération ansin scaoileadh racht díoltais ar fud na Fraince ar aoinne a measadh a bhí ró-ghar do na Gearmánaigh. De bharr íogaire na Fraince faoi aontacht na tíre mar náisiún agus ról casta na Fraince sa chogadh, cuireadh féiniúlacht na Briotáine agus na teanga go mór ar gcúl ina dhiaidh agus b’éigean go fiú do náisiúnaithe measartha ar nós Yann Fouére an Fhrainc a fhágáil. Fuair sé cuidiú ó leithéid Chearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh agus muintir Thomáis de Bhaldraithe chun socrú in Éirinn ó 1948. I 1950 bhog sé féin agus a chlann go ceantar an Chloiginn, Conamara, áit a ndeachaigh sé i bpáirtnéireacht chun gnó tábhachtach easpórtála gliomach agus sliog-éisc a fhorbairt. Ba é Yann go deimhin an chéad duine riamh a chuir gliomaigh as Éirinn ar eitleán! In ainneoin cúrsa dearóil iarthar na hÉireann sna 1950í, bhí Yann in ann slí bheatha mhaith a bhaint amach agus tá ráite aige in ainneoin na dífhostaíochta ar fad a bhí in iarthar na hÉireann ag an am, go raibh féidireachtaí fiontair go leor ann ach nár bhain na daoine leas astu. Teachtaireacht don lá inniu, b’fhéidir?

Yann had to flee in 1946 to Wales and later to Ireland. He had an important role during the war years to forward the status of Brittany and the Bretons, but Breton nationalism got a bad reputation due primarily to a small group who were fighting on the side of the Germans against the Résistance. At the time of Libération an outburst of revenge was released throughout France against anyone who was believed to have been too close to the Germans. Because of France’s sensitivity about the union of the country as a nation and the complex role France had in the war, the cause of Brittany’s identity and language was very much put back and it was necessary for moderate nationalists, such as Yann Fouéré, to leave France. He got help from Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh and the family of Tomás de Bháldraithe to settle in Ireland in 1948. In 1950, he and his family moved to Cloigeann, Conamara, where he went into partnership to develop an important business exporting lobsters and shellfish. In fact, Yann was the first person to send lobsters out of Ireland on an airplane! Despite the derelict state of the west of Ireland in the 1950s, Yann was able to earn a living and he has said that despite all the unemployment in the west of Ireland at the time, there were enterprise opportunities but people did not take advantage of them. A message for today, maybe?

Faoi dheireadh, nuair a shocraigh cúrsaí san Fhrainc bhí Yann in ann filleadh agus in 1955, éigiontaigh cúirt mhíleata go hiomlán ón uile chúis é.

Finally, when affairs settled down in France, Yann was able to return in 1955. He was fully cleared by a military court of all cases against him.

Ag an ócáid in Quintin, rinneadh tagairtí do náisiúnachas réasúnta Yann Fouéré. Go deimhin dúirt cainteoir amháin, Gérard Gautier, polaiteoir fríth-chiníochais, cé go raibh sé i gcoinne náisiúnaithe go ginearálta, go raibh an-mheas aige ar Yann Fouéré as ucht a chuid oibre ar son na Briotáine.

At the occasion in Quintin, references were made to the reasonable nationalism of Yann Fouéré. Indeed, one speaker, Gérard Gautier, an anti-racism politician, said that, although he was against nationalism in general, he had much respect for Yann Fouéré for his work on behalf of Brittany.

Maidir leis an náisiúnachas sa Bhriotáin sa lá atá inniu ann, d’iarr bean tí an lóistín álainn a raibh mé ag fanacht ann (Le Manoir de Roz-Maria), ‘Le nationalisme Breton, existe-il encore?’ agus í ag ligean iontais áirithe uirthi, mar dhea. Níor Briotánach í féin, ach ba cainteoir Briotáinise a fear céile agus nuair a bhí sé beo, dúirt sí gur ghlac sé leis féin mar Fhrancach i dtús báire agus mar Bhriotánach ina dhiaidh sin.

Regarding Breton nationalism today, the hostess of the lovely lodging where I was staying (Le Manoir de Roz-Maria) asked, “Breton nationalism, does it still exist?”, expressing a certain surprise, as it were. She was not a Breton, but her husband was a Breton speaker and when he was alive, that he accepted himself as a Frenchman first and then a Breton after that.

I láthair na huaire, tá an chuma ar chúrsaí go bhfuil glacadh níos mó le siombalachas fhéiniúlacht an Briotáine anois ná riamh. Dúradh liom go raibh i bhfad níos mó Briotáinise á múineadh sna scoileanna ach ar bhonn ábhair sheachtraigh don chuid is mó is cosúil faraor. Tá i bhfad níos mó scoileanna lán-Bhriotáinise ann mar sin féin, na scoileanna Diwan. Dá ainneoin, agus ar nós na Gaeilge in Éirinn, is annamh a chloistear Briotáinis ach ar ócáidí foirmeálta. An t-aon uair riamh a chuala mé á labhairt go nádúrtha í, ná i mbeár tuaithe taobh thiar de Roscoff – fir mheán-aosta agus níos sine ar fad a bhí sna cainteoirí.

These days, it seems that there is more of an acceptance of the symbolism of Brittany’s identity than ever before. I was told that there is much more Breton being taught in schools, but as an external subject, it seems, for the most part, unfortunately. There are many more all-Breton schools nevertheless, the Diwan schools. Despite that, and as for Irish in Ireland, it is rare that one hears Breton being spoken except on formal occasions. The only time that I heard it being spoken naturally was in a country bar behind Roscoff – all the speakers were middle-aged men and older.

Ar nós na hÉireann, cuirtear go leor den fhéiniúlacht ar aghaidh tríd an gceol agus trí chleachtais reiligiúnacha – pardons na hEaglaise Caitlicí go háirithe. Mar is eol do roinnt léitheoirí, mórshiúlta iad sin in onóir naoimh go minic agus a ngléastar san fheisteas sainiúil Briotánach iontu. Cleachtas nua neamh-reiligiúnach a thugann aitheantas do bhratach na Briotáine, ná go dtaispeántar anois é ar chlár-phlátaí charranna na Briotáine – é seo ceadaithe go hoifigiúil ag an Rialtas lárnach sa chóras nua clárucháin carranna, agus a thaispeánann géilleadh áirithe maidir le haitheantas do chultúir réigiúnacha san Fhrainc. Chomh maith leis sin tá cainéal nua teilifíse TV Breizh ar bun, ach níor léir domsa go raibh aon chláir as Briotáinis á gcraoladh air i rith sheachtainí lár an tsamhraidh seo cibé. Is cosúil mar sin, in ainneoin glacadh níos fearr a bheith le siombail na Briotáine, tá an baol siorraí ann nach mairfidh an chuid is sainiúla agus is doimhne dá saíocht sin ar scála leathan pobail – an teanga féin. Cuimhnímis ar an méid a dúirt duine de na daoine a labhair ag lá breithe Yann, an ‘militant’ Briotánach Per Lemoine, …’is í an Bhriotáinis an teanga dheireanach Cheilteach atá á labhairt ar Mhór-Roinn na hEorpa’ – ní beag an méid sin. Tá ráite in amhrán náisiúnta na Briotáine

He yezh a zo bepred ken beo ha bizkoazh..

Dihunet out bremañ, ma Breizh !

D’fhan do theanga beo riamh anall..

Tá tú múscailte anois mo Bhriotáin!

As in Ireland, identity is promoted through music and through religious practices – Catholic Church pardons, in particular. As some readers will know, these are often parades in honour of saints with distinctive traditional Breton dress being worn. There is a new non-religious practice that gives identity to the Breton flag, that is, the flag is displayed on car licence plates – this is permitted by the central government in the new car registration process, and it shows a certain submission regarding the recognition of the regional culture in France. In addition to this, there is a new television station TV Breizh running, but it was not evident to me that there were any programmes in Breton being broadcast on it, at least not during the week in the middle of the summer. It seems therefore, despite a better acceptance of the symbol of Brittany, there is a lasting danger that the most distinctive and deepest part of this wisdom may not last on a broad community scale – the language itself. We remember what was said by one of the people at Yann’s birthday, the Breton “militant” Per Lemoine, …”Breton is the last Celtic language that is being spoken in continental Europe” – that is no small thing. It is said in a national song of Brittany,

He yezh a zo bepred ken beo ha bizkoazh..

Dihunet out bremañ, ma Breizh !

Your language stayed alive ever on…

You are awakened/encouraged now, my Brittany!

Tá súil agam é. Go maire Yann, a mhuintir, teanga agus saíocht na Briotáine.

I hope so. May Yann, his family, the language and wisdom of Brittany live on.

Séamas Mac Philib

Article on Yann Fouéré’s 100th, by Thierry Jigourel, in the Celtic League’s journal ‘CARN’, no.148 Winter 2010 issue.

See also French site under ‘ACTUALITÉS’ for all other articles on the 100th Birthday.

Fondation Yann Fouéré

English version of Fondation Yann Fouéré website

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