Gaeilgeoir i measc na nAlp

 Micheal Breathnach

Rugadh Mícheál Breathnach ar an 16 Meán Fómhair   1881, sa Lochán Beag i gCois Fharraige,  Co. na Gaillimhe.

D'fhreastal sé Scoil an Chnoic agus ina dhiaidh sin bhí sé ina chúntóir sa scoil chéanna go bhfuair sé post mar rúnaí do Chonradh na Gaeilge i Londan sa mbliain 1901.

Chaith sé ceithre bliana i Londan, áit a ndearna sé sár-obair, gur chlis an tsláinte air agus b'éigean dó anEilvéis a thabhairt air féin ag iarraidh bisigh. Is ansin a scríobh sé an "tSeilg".

He could hardly be described as a 'mountaineer' in the normal sense of the term, yet he spent some time in the Swiss Alps and in his book 'Seilg i measc na nAlp' he  recounts (as Gaeilge) his experiences of the region and the activities therein.  Although he says 'Tar liom ó Gleann na Róinne go barr an chnoic' there is no indication that he reached any summits.  However, he did visit Les Diablerets and outlines the dangers of glacier travel and describes the effects of avalanches and the search for and the recovery of the victims of such.

His description of the winter activities of skating, tobogganing and climbing in the early years of the 20th century in the Irish language are probably unique.