In 1867, at atime when Bretons were desperately trying to preserve theirlanguage and traditions against the cultural imperialism of thecentralized French state, Hersart de La Villemarqué, author of thefamous Barzaz-Breiz (Songs of Brittany), sent out a call for whatwas to become the first Interceltic Congress, to be held at Saint-Brieuc. His appeal was to his ‘compatriots from Wales, brothersfrom Cornwall and cousins from Ireland and Scotland’.