‍A Short History of the Breton Language/Diarmuid Ó Breasláin/An Clochán/2026

‍

‍The Irish author Diarmuid Ó Breasláin has just published A Short History of the Breton Language, an  English-language work that traces about 1,500 years of the history of the Breton language (Brezhoneg) , from its origins in Britain to its contemporary situation. Once spoken by over a million speakers and the most spoken language in the six Celtic countries, its usage declined in the 20th century as France assertively sought to stamp out regional languages and dialects.

‍

‍Originally from Belfast, Diarmuid Ó Breasláin has been interested in Celtic languages since his adolescence. He learned Irish at school and became involved in the movement for Celtic languages starting in the 1980s. He has also been an editor of "The Celtic Pen," a journal dedicated to the literatures in the six Celtic languages.

‍

‍This new book dedicated to Breton continues the work of two previous publications. With Paddy Dwyer, he published "A Short History of the Irish Language" in 1995, and then, with the Manx activist Brian Stowell, "A Short History of the Manx Language" in 1996. A Short History was published by the independent press An Clochán, located in Belfast, Ireland.

‍

‍In A Short History of the Breton Language the author reflects on the historical decline of Breton but also on its resilience and the efforts made to ensure its transmission. He notably discusses the role of writers and musicians, education in Breton, Diwan schools, and the numerous associative initiatives that have contributed to the revitalization of the language.

‍

‍The choice of English is obviously not trivial. It allows for the presentation of the history of Breton to an international readership that often knows Irish or Welsh better than the last continental Celtic language. This importantly allows Breton to escape the linguistic curtain of ‘ownership’ that the French state has used to veil the indigenous Breton culture from wider awareness by the rest of the world.

‍

‍In an interview over on Breizh Amerika, Diarmuid Ó Breasláin elaborates on his background, his interest in Brittany, and the evolution of the situation of Celtic languages since the 1980s. He also explains that he is working on other projects dedicated to the six Celtic nations and languages. Interested parties can get the book by contacting the author at breslinderm@gmail.com or via An Ceathrú Póilí, a major Irish-language bookstore located in the Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich cultural center in Belfast. They regularly stock and distribute local independent publications from Belfast presses.

‍

‍~ Fañch

‍