This led to him being prosecuted for not taxing his car due to the lack of Irish language certificates. Many Irish language organisations supported him, and after he was jailed for a number days in April 1966 in Mountjoy Prison, his fine was paid by a donor. He later paid the full tax due in arrears. A lifelong republican, he was a member of the Wolfe Tone Society, which supported both traditional republicanism and socialism. He was a strong opponent of partition in Ireland. During the 50 anniversary of Easter Rising in 1966, he joined 12 fellow members of the Irish-language activist group Misneach on a hunger strike to highlight the failure of the Irish state to accomplish the goals of the 1916 proclamation. The group picketed the GPO, Liberty Hall and the new Garden of Remembrance, and their protest was covered by both national and international media. He wrote for the United Irishman throughout the 1960s, and from 1973 to 1974 was editor of An Phoblacht while Éamonn Mac Thomáis was imprisoned, and again from 1977 to 1979. From 1986, he wrote for the journal Saoirse. He was opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, which his daughter Lucilita was involved in negotiating. Alongside his wife, Breatnach was an advocate for human rights globally, particularly opposed the authoritarian regimes in South America. Both of them supported their son, Osgur, throughout a long battle to exonerate him from a conviction relating a train robbery. He was a founding member of Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP). Breatnach was also involved with the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Pipers' Club. He continued to write and compose music into his 70s. Death Breatnach died 2 days after his wife, on the day of her funeral, 3 October 2007. his body was donated to medical science. Selected publications Books The best of the English: a short account of the life and work of the bishop of Kilmore, William Bedell (1971) Chugat an Púca (1994) Galar na bhfocal agus scéalta eile (1999) Gríscíní saillte (2001) Poetry Dánta amadóra (1998) Children's books An fáinne Arabach (1960) An dealbh Spáinneach (1962) An buama deireanach (1962) An deachtóir (1963) An gasúr a chaill a ghoile (1984) References 1921 births 2007 deaths 20th-century Irish poets 20th-century Irish writers Conradh na Gaeilge people Irish republicans Irish-language writers Journalists from Dublin (city) People educated at Belvedere College Writers from Dublin (city)