KIROUAC FAMILY ASSOCIATION INC.

Return to the Sources - Journey to Brittany - Summer 2000

As the Kirouac Family Association became a reality, organizing a trip to Brittany, the Ancestor's native land was discussed. But first of all we needed to find out exactly where in Brittany he hailed from. So, in 1978, genealogical research was started. Eventually there was light at the end of the tunnel but a conclusion was reached only towards the end of 1999.


A committee was formed under the leadership of Pierre Kirouac (KFA president 2002-2005), to plan the return to the sources trip. The journey to Brittany took place 3-18 July 2000. Thirty-two persons were lucky enough to realize a life-time dream, that is to visit their ancestor's land.


Two reasons motivated this trip: first it was a two-week tour of Brittany to discover the region, hence the travellers visited many towns including Saint-Malo, Brest, Quimper, Vannes, Nantes. On the other hand it was a formal visit including official receptions and the unveiling of two memorial plaques. The official events in Brittany were planned by Mrs. Patricia Dagier, the Breton genealogist, while Pierre Kirouac and his committee, in Quebec, prepared the touristic circuit. Coordinating both was done by the then KFA president, Clément Kirouac.


One of the official ceremonies was the unveiling of a memorial plaque on the Kervoac estate in Lanmeur, where our family name is derived. At the beginning of 1999, the municipal authorities of Lanmeur had already decided to name a street in their village in honour of Jack Kerouac, the Franco-American author. Upon hearing of the Kirouacs coming, they decided to mark the occasion by unveiling the plaque and invite the thirty-two travellers to attend.


The following day, 9 July, the KFA unveiled another plaque in the village of Huelgoat in homage to Urbain-François Le Bihan, Sieur de Kervoac. Again on this occasion, the travellers were graciously received by the municipal authorities.


In this section of the website, you will find (in French only) the speeches made at these various events :


Mayor of Lanmeur, Jean-Luc Fichet

Mayor of Huelgoat, Robert Cleuziou

Mr. Deputy of Finistère, Kofi Yamgnane

You can also see and hear the president of the Association (1994-2000), Mr. Clément Kirouac, on the occasion of the speech he made in Lanmeur

and in Huelgoat.

You will also find, in this part of the site, images of other receptions held at:

Lanmeur on the land of Kervoac

as well as the town hall of Lanmeur

as well as the town hall of Quimper

and the General Council of Finistère (part 1)

and the General Council of Finistère (part 2)

You may also consult the souvenir-book filled with the comments written by the travellers and various other persons met during the trip, as well as the book Bretagne 2000 (published later in French only).


And there is more: two videos in French of interviews done by journalist and author, Hervé Quémener, when the KFA members were in Huelgoat. The first interview is with the librairian in Brest, Pierre Le Bris (1918-2012), who became Ulysse in Satori in Paris. Mr. Le Bris talks about the visit of Jack Kerouac, the Franco-American author, who visited him in Brest in 1965.



Pierre Lebris, part 1

Pierre Lebris, part 2

The second interview was conducted with the famous Breton poet, singer and sculptor, Youenn Gwernig (1925-2006).



To better remember the trip to Brittany in the summer of 2000, here are some photos of the travellers, the ceremonies attended and the places visited.


Unfortunately, some "cousins" are no longer with us so this is also in their memories.



Françoise Gaudreault, Jonquière (1929-2018)

Gabrielle Hurtubise Lafrenière, Longueuil (1918-2024)

Aimé Keroack, Dorval (1922-2010)

Bruno Kirouac, Warwick (1926-2019)

Céline Kirouac, Warwick (1952-2007)

Gérard Kirouac, Deux-Montagnes (1925-2004)

Hélène Kirouac, Warwick (1925-2013)

Ivan Kirouac, Longueuil (1920-2010)

Jacques Kirouac, Sainte-Foy (1927-2019)

Marguerite Kirouac, Arthabaska (1921-2021)

Paul Kirouac, Brossard (1936-2020)

Pierre Kirouac, Trois-Rivières (1941-2018)

Éliane Tardif, Candiac (1932-2018)


Enjoy your e-visit and travelling with the K/s!


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