now the sun breaks through, is a poetry anthology commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and the linked 25th anniversary of the inaugural British-Irish Council Summit (December 2024). 

The rich linguistic heritage of the Council’s members is an important part of the culture of these islands. In recognition, Indigenous Minority and Lesser-Used languages was added to the Council’s portfolio of work sectors in June 2002. The work sector focuses on Irish, Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, Ulster Scots, Manx, Jèrriais, Guernesiais, and Cornish.

The poetry anthology recognises the efforts made across these islands to support these languages, which embody a wealth of knowledge, culture, and history that has been passed down through generations.

The British-Irish Council has collaborated with the Scottish Poetry Library to develop the poetry anthology, themed around the natural environment. Within the collection, readers are introduced to these languages, and their rhythms and expressions. The poems are composed by poets in the nine languages, and interpreted and adapted into English.