Irish/Basque Community Network (IBCON) Spring/Summer Newsletter - 2011

IBCON/CARA 2011: 01/2 We can be anything we want to be. doi: 10.5473/cara.1108012 from The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry (1969-present)

The official newsletter of the Irish/Basque Association Cara

SUMMARY Welcome to this belated Spring/Summer 2011 edition of the Newsletter of the Irish/ Basque Association CARA. This issue includes a number of essays by CARA members, including a report of the sensations experienced at the CARA Annual Christmas Dinner, celebrated in the CafeAntzokia last December; another chapter of the newsletter historical section which explores similarities between aspects of Irish and Basque history, culture and folklore; a paper exploring the relevance of The Gernika Agreement and a reflection on the annual Korrika run in support of the Basque language, among others. CARA President Eamon Roche writes in memory and honor of Fergus Ryan whose absence among us due to a fatal cancer is sorely felt. However, the continuing presence of those "twinkling eyes and smile from ear to ear" is felt by many. As usual, there are a few reports of past events of the Association and news of forthcoming events of interest, in addition to the advertisement of a number of job opportunities. Finally, you are enthusiastically invited to participate in our forthcoming Autumn Picnic Fiesta, which is planned to take place with a trip to the Urdaibai nature resort, near Gernika, this October. Details about how to book your place will become available shortly on the CARA web (http:// www.laguncara.com). Enjoy your summer holidays!

CARA - BACKGROUND forthcoming activities are regularly posted on the CARA web at: http://www.laguncara.com - if you have The Irish/Basque Community Network (IBCON) was any news you consider would be of interest to the established with a view to facilitating contact among Network, or if you would like to submit an article for anyone with an interest in Irish/Basque matters. publishing in our newsletter, please do e-mail this to us The Network is not an Irish Club, nor is it a Basque at: [email protected] Club, but rather, an association of people who share in common their interest in Irish and/or Basque people, business, culture, etc. At the core of the IBCON network is the Irish/Basque association CARA, whose activity hinges around four Key Meals a year (summer, autumn, Christmas and Easter). These are celebrated with a view to consolidating relationships among members of the network and stimulating projects of interest. Past events of the Association, as well as

Fig. 1. Spanish/Irish Business Network/CARA. Pan-Irish alumni network event last January in Bilbao, Barcelona and Madrid. In "The Dubliners", from left to right: Alvaro Arrizabalaga, Denise O'Flynn, Bríd Walsh, David Fogarty, Rocco Caira and Mikel Arieta.

Correspondence or inquiries to: David J. Fogarty (Editor) or Bríd Walsh (Co-editor). e-mail: [email protected] - Web: http://www.laguncara.com Declaration of interest: The authors declare that they have no commercial interests in elaborating this document or in establishing the network.

Note: Any ideas contained within this Newsletter represent the opinions of its individual authors. Statements made on behalf of the Irish Basque Association CARA will be made by unanimous resolution of its Management Board (Junta Directiva).

OBITUARY

Fergus Ryan - a personal appreciation by Éamon Roche ([email protected])

Pidgin English and 100 watt bulbs This may seem an unusual, even disrespectful way to begin an appreciation of a recently- deceased, sorely-missed friend. However, as Fergus was anything but usual or run-of-the-mill, the images fit my purpose. From Pidgin English I want to borrow a term used, so I’ve been told, to refer to deity. Fergus did not share the ordinary God-fearing Christian’s view of the after-life. So, thinking of Fergus as "Him-Big-Fellah-in-the-Sky" conjures up an image that for me, at least, respects my friend’s beliefs while adding a warmer, friendlier nuance to the sense of loss. It also seems most appropriate that The Big Fellah is also a nickname given to Michael Collins. In my eyes both of these Big Fellahs shared the same passionate, fiery sense of Irishness. I read somewhere that when Brendan Behan walked into a room, the effect of his electrifying It wasn’t just the charm and the charisma either. personality was akin to that of a 100 watt bulb There was also Fergus’s mischievous sense of suddenly being switched on. Fergus, the Big Fellah, humour. I can still see the twinkling eyes and hear with his larger-than-life personality, oozing charm the ringing laughter as Fergus explained to me and charisma - seems to have had a similar effect that quite a few people pronounced his name “Fair here from the very beginning, when his arrival in Goose”! Were they intuitively praising his love of Bilbao was announced in a local paper as “London harmless gansadas? creative joins Bilbao advertising agency”. Though Fergus and I were born at different ends Creative and gifted he certainly was! The richness of the island of Ireland, our paths were destined to of that wonderful voice of his singing beautiful, and cross, and in Bilbao of all places! The signposts often less well-known, songs deeply-rooted in were there all the time, even though neither of us Irish history and folklore rendered with his unique realized we were following them. Fergus Ryan sean-nós - traditional style - colouring, would by O’Connor was closely connected to Ryans and turns take your breath away, pluck at your heart O’Connors from my hometown, Thurles, Co. strings or fill your eyes with tears. And there was Tipperary. Ryan is a very common surname in I, knowing the words of countless of Irish ballads Tipperary, so much so that the different families but always needing somebody to sing along just to are distinguished by nicknames. Of course, keep me in tune; there was I indeed, very Irish…very Fergus’s link wasn’t with a Ryan Bucket, a Ryan green…with envy because I was only in the Bit o’ Meat, Ryan Church Mouse, or Ryan Hoppy ha’penny place, as they used to say at home. Mick; oh no, brilliant and shining as always, CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 3

Fergus was connected to Ryan Jewellers! The power of a few drops of the "hard stuff" to soften O’Connors ran the Munster Hotel, where many of our conflicting claims to the moral high ground and my aunts helped out with the catering for weddings take the abrasiveness out of our "clash of egos". —asking, to our great delight as kids, if we wanted The problem with 100 watt bulbs is they give off a forkin’ knife— and innumerable family get- too much heat and very little light, but I’m lucky that togethers were celebrated over the years. Fergus in your case I got warmth and light to see. Like —‘Fair Goose’?— and I seem to have been playing Newton, if I have seen a little further it is by ducks and drakes over the years. He married a standing on the shoulders of a Big Fellah. John of Basque and came to Bilbao to live permanently Salisbury got it exactly right in your case: some years before I did; he was involved in an "we see more…not because our sight is Irish-Basque association years before I was and superior or because we are taller than later, probably following the Groucho Marx view, they, but because they raise us up, and by seems to have felt that any association that their great stature add to ours." accepted me as a member couldn’t be worth I can’t listen to Liam Clancy’s rendering of The joining; and, over time, he left what some like to Parting Glass without thinking fondly of you: call a “real job” to go into language teaching Oh, all the comrades e’er I had, whereas, over time, I left language teaching to go They’re sorry for my going away, into a so-called “real job”! And all the sweethearts e’er I had, We didn’t always see eye-to-eye either; on the They’d wish me one more day to stay, odd occasion it was more eyeball to eyeball. In the But since it falls unto my lot, great hurling tradition of counties such as Tipperary That I should rise and you should not, the "clash of the ash" is much appreciated, but my I gently rise and softly call, defence of an energy project being developed by Good night and joy be with you all. my “real job” Irish company led to a different kind Fergus, You-Big-Fellah-in-the-sky, in the wind, of clash. I wanted the Big Fellah’s Irish approval for in the mountain, in the waves, in the soft star that what I considered my Irish project, but there was shines at night, I’m eternally grateful our paths no budging him from his environmental Rock of have crossed and are crossing. I’ll take your Cashel. In the end we agreed to differ while letting advice and I won’t stand at your grave to cry; I’ll the warmth of Jameson rekindle the fire of accept you are not there, you did not die. At the friendship. We both passionately believed in the same time, I hope I’ll be able to follow Dylan Thomas’s recommendation: Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, … Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. In any case, when we do both meet face-to-face again, Big-Fellah-in-the-sky, I know you’ll be one ahead of me as always; and with your twinkling eyes and smile from ear to ear, you’ll be bursting to show me how you’ve managed to plough the rocks of Bawn! Éamon Roche, April 2011

Fergus passed away on 8th February 2011, following a long battle with cancer. Goian bego (Eusk.) Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís (Irish). 4 www.laguncara.com [email protected]

EVENTS

Speeches of Irish President Mary McAleese and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Dublin Castle - 18 May 2011.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:

A Uachtaráin agus a chairde (President and friends). Prince Philip and I are delighted to be here, and to experience at first hand Ireland’s world-famous hospitality. Together we have much to celebrate: the ties between our people, the shared values, and the economic, business and cultural links that make us so set out to build bridges. And I have seen at first hand much more than just neighbours, that make us firm your success in bringing together different communities friends and equal partners. and traditions on this island. You have also shed new Madam President, speaking here in Dublin Castle it light on the sacrifice of those who served in the First is impossible to ignore the weight of history, as it was World War. Even as we jointly opened the Messines yesterday when you and I laid wreaths at the Garden Peace Park in 1998, it was difficult to look ahead to the of Remembrance. time when you and I would be standing together at Indeed, so much of this visit reminds us of the Islandbridge as we were today. complexity of our history, its many layers and traditions, That transformation is also evident in the but also the importance of forbearance and conciliation; establishment of a successful power-sharing Executive of being able to bow to the past, but not be bound by in Northern Ireland. A knot of history that was it. painstakingly loosened by the British and Irish Of course, the relationship has not always been Governments together with the strength, vision and straightforward; nor has the record over the centuries determination of the political parties in Northern Ireland. been entirely benign. It is a sad and regrettable reality What were once only hopes for the future have now that through history, our islands have experienced come to pass; it is almost exactly 13 years since the more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence and overwhelming majority of people in Ireland and Northern loss. Ireland voted in favour of the agreement signed on These events have touched us all, many of us Good Friday 1998, paving the way for Northern Ireland personally, and are a painful legacy. We can never to become the exciting and inspirational place that it is forget those who have died or been injured, and their today. I applaud the work of all those involved in the families. To all those who have suffered as a peace process, and of all those who support and consequence of our troubled past, I extend my sincere nurture peace, including members of the police, the thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of Gardaí, and the other emergency services, and those historical hindsight we can all see things which we who work in the communities, the churches and would wish had been done differently or not at all. But charitable bodies like Co-operation Ireland. Taken it is also true that no-one who looked to the future over together, their work not only serves as a basis for the past centuries could have imagined the strength of reconciliation between our people and communities, the bonds that are now in place between the but it gives hope to other peacemakers across the governments and the people of our two nations, the world that through sustained effort, peace can and will spirit of partnership that we now enjoy, and the lasting prevail. rapport between us. No-one here this evening could For the world moves on quickly. The challenges of doubt that heartfelt desire of our two nations. the past have been replaced by new economic Madam President, you have done a great deal to challenges which will demand the same imagination promote this understanding and reconciliation. You CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 5 and courage. The lessons from the peace process are become a work of progress, of partnership and clear; whatever life throws at us, our individual friendship. responses will be all the stronger for working together The contemporary British-Irish relationship is and sharing the load. multifaceted and strongly underpinned by the most There are other stories written daily across these important connection of all — people and families. islands which do not find their voice in solemn pages Large numbers of British born people live here in of history books, or newspaper headlines, but which Ireland and many more of our citizens have British are at the heart of our shared narrative. Many British backgrounds, ancestry and identity. In Britain, those of families have members who live in this country, as Irish birth, descent or identity are numbered in millions. many Irish families have close relatives in the United The two way flow of people between these islands Kingdom. goes back millennia. This very room is dedicated to St These families share the two islands; they have Patrick, whose name is synonymous with Ireland. Yet visited each other and have come home to each other he is reputed to have been born in Britain. Patrick’s life over the years. They are the ordinary people who as the man who brought Christianity to Ireland is yearned for the peace and understanding we now illustrative of the considerable exchange of ideas and have between our two nations and between the knowledge that there has been between our two communities within those two nations; a living testament nations throughout history. to how much in common we have. It has been a fascinating two way street with Britain These ties of family, friendship and affection are our bestowing on Ireland our system of common law, most precious resource. They are the lifeblood of the parliamentary tradition, independent civil service, partnership across these islands, a golden thread that gracious Georgian architecture, love of English runs through all our joint successes so far, and all we literature and our obsession with the Premiership. will go on to achieve. They are a reminder that we have Conversely, Britain greatly benefitted from the Irish much to do together to build a future for all our genius of the likes of Edmund Burke, the Duke of grandchildren: the kind of future our grandparents Wellington, Daniel O’Connell, Charles Stuart Parnell, could only dream of. Maria Edgeworth, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw So we celebrate together the widespread spirit of and even Father Ted. Indeed, it was Shaw who wryly goodwill and deep mutual understanding that has observed that: served to make the relationship more harmonious, “England had conquered Ireland, so there was close as good neighbours should always be. nothing for it but to come over and conquer England.” However, even Shaw might not have dared to imagine that this cultural conquest would come in time President Mary McAleese to include rugby and cricket. The Irish in Britain and the British in Ireland both as Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, Taoiseach, Prime Minister, First Minister, Tanaiste, Foreign Secretary, Distinguished Guests: It is my pleasure to welcome you to Dublin Castle this evening on this the first ever State Visit to take place between our two countries. This visit is a culmination of the success of the Peace Process. It is an acknowledgment that while we cannot change the past, we have chosen to change the future. The relationship between our two neighbouring nations is long, complex and has often been turbulent. Like the tides that surround each of us, we have shaped and altered each other. This evening we celebrate a new chapter in our relationship that may still be a work in progress, but happily, has also 6 www.laguncara.com [email protected] individuals and communities, have made an invaluable the British and Irish Governments was crucial to the contribution to both our homelands while also success of the Peace Process and we can thank the cementing the links between us. deepening engagement between us as equal partners Today those links provide the foundation for a in the European Union for the growth of friendship and thriving economic relationship. As close trade and trust. The Governments’ collaborative efforts to bring investment partners and as partners in the European peace and power-sharing to Northern Ireland have Union, Britain and Ireland are essential to each other’s yielded huge dividends for the peoples of these two economic wellbeing. It is imperative that we work islands. fluently together to promote the conditions that stimulate W.B. Yeats once wrote in another context that prosperity and opportunity for all of our people. “peace comes dropping slow.” It is only right that on this historic visit we should The journey to peace has been cruelly slow and reflect on the difficult centuries which have brought us arduous but it has taken us to a place where hope to this point. Inevitably where there are the colonisers thrives and the past no longer threatens to overwhelm and the colonised, the past is a repository of sources our present and our future. The legacy of the Good of bitter division. The harsh facts cannot be altered nor Friday Agreement is already profound and encouraging. loss nor grief erased but with time and generosity, We all of us have a duty to protect, nurture and develop interpretations and perspectives can soften and open it. up space for new accommodations. Your Majesty, from our previous conversations I Yesterday, Your Majesty, you visited our Garden of know of your deep support for the peace process and Remembrance and laid a wreath there in honour of the your longing to see relationships between our two sacrifice and achievement of those who fought against countries sustained on a template of good Britain for Irish independence. Today at Islandbridge, neighbourliness. Your visit here is an important sign - just as we did at the Island of Ireland Peace Park at among a growing number of signs - that we have Messines in 1998, we commemorated together the embarked on the fresh start envisaged in the Good thousands of Irishmen who gave their lives in British Friday Agreement. Your visit is a formal recognition of uniform in the Great War. what has, for many years, been a reality – that Ireland As the first citizen of Ireland, like my fellow and Britain are neighbours, equals, colleagues and countrymen and women, I am deeply proud of Ireland’s friends. Though the seas between us have often been difficult journey to national sovereignty. I am proud of stormy, we have chosen to build a solid and enduring how we have used our independence to build a republic bridge of friendship between us and to cross it to a which asserts the religious and civil liberty, equal new, a happier future. rights and equal opportunities not just of all its citizens Your Majesty, your Royal Highness it is in that spirit but of all human beings. I am particularly proud of this of mutual respect and warm friendship, it is in faith in island’s peace-makers who having experienced first- that future, that I offer you the traditional warm Irish hand the appalling toxic harvest of failing to resolve old welcome - cead mile failte - one hundred thousand hatreds and political differences, rejected the perennial welcomes. culture of conflict and compromised enough to let a new future in. I now invite you, distinguished guests, to stand and join The Good Friday Agreement represented a fresh me in a toast: start and committed us all to partnership, equality and - To the health and happiness of Her Majesty and His mutual respect as the basis of future relationships. Royal Highness; Under the Agreement, unionism and nationalism were - To the well-being and prosperity of the people of accorded equal recognition as political aspirations Britain; and philosophies. Northern Ireland’s present status - To the cause of peace and reconciliation on this within the United Kingdom was solemnly recognised, island; as was the option for a united Ireland if that secures the - And to continued friendship and kinship between the agreement and consent of a majority of the people of peoples of Ireland and Britain. Northern Ireland. The collegial and cooperative relationship between Go raibh maith agaibh. (Thank you very much) CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 7

HISTORICAL CORNER This collection tells of giants, of supernatural peoples, of great battles, of Discovering our Origins sorcerers, of gods and magic spells. It gives the Irish a by Vanessa Pérez ([email protected]) genealogy that dates back to Noah – via Spain, Egypt and Hi everybody and welcome to this new bilingual historical Babel – and tells how a people known as the “Milesians” section of the CARA Newsletter. In this little space you will conquered Ireland and be able to remember or maybe learn a bit of Irish History and banished such tribes as the you will learn as well a little bit of Basque Mythology. So Fir Bolg and the Tuatha De here is the second chapter; I hope you continue to enjoy Danann. The Milesians are them. reputedly the ancestors of the people now known as Irish. Neolithic Ireland Another feature of many of the Irish legends is By 3,000 BC, Mesolithic man had been superseded by the dinnseanchas, or “lore of more advanced Neolithic, or new Stone Age Man, whose origins place”, in which the storyteller tries to explain how a particular were in continental Europe. They led a much more settled life, place received its name or how a certain geographical feature was rearing livestock, clearing and cultivating the soil. formed. It is through dinnseanchas that the volcanic basalt columns At the Ceide Fields, near Ballycastle in north County Mayo, a of the North Antrim coast have acquired the name, the Giant´s network of new stone-age fields has recently been discovered Causeway. under 6 m (20 ft) of bog, indicating that there was once a large The Causeway was the work of the giant Finn McCool, an population in this area which is now quite remote. Ulster warrior and commander (or king) of Ireland´s armies. Neolithic peoples were also responsible for the construction of Legend has it that Finn could pick thorns out of his heels while the great megalithic passage grave at Newgrange, County Meath. running and was capable of amazing feasts of strength. Once, This tomb, which today stands 11 m (36 ft) high and has a during a fight with a Scottish giant, he scooped up a huge clod of diameter of 85 m, is the work of a large disciplined society. Similar earth and flung it at his fleeing rival. The clod fell into the sea and monuments found at nearby Knowth and Dowth leave little doubt turned into the Isle of Man. The hole it left filled up with water and that there was a major population centre here in the valley of the became Lough Neagh. Boyne river. The Newgrange tomb also reveals that these people Irish history is rich with such myths and legends. Many weave had an interest in astronomy, for a small opening at one end of the true history with brilliant threads of myth and lore; this happened 19-m passage allows sunlight to illuminate the central chamber at with the legend of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. The old the heart of the mound at dawn on the winter solstice. stories of Irish kings are woven and intertwined with tales of Archeologists believe that this spectacular ancient tomb was faeries and mystical gods. Add to these the Irish Druids, the Celts built about 5,000 years ago (3200 BC), 500 years before the and the birth of Christianity, and the line between fact and fantasy pyramids in Egypt and 1,000 years before Stonehenge. Newgrange dims even more. is now said to be one of the world´s oldest structural sites. La historia del Olentzero Early myths and legends Another, parallel, version of the early history of Ireland comes La historia del Olentzero comienza en el municipio Navarro de from the Book of Invasions, a collection of myths, legends and Larraun. ¿Queréis conocer la verdadera historia del Olentzero?. beliefs gathered together by Christian historians around 1100 AD, Entonces, abrid bien los ojos y permaneced atentos a estas although it is clearly part of a much earlier tradition. líneas. En los bosques de Euskal Herria, hace muchos, muchísimos años, vivía un hada muy bella de cabellera amarilla y ojos muy brillantes. Como todas las hadas, cuidaba de la gente y estaba acompañada por unas criaturas similares a los duendes llamados Prakagorri (pantalones rojos) que la ayudaban en todo su trabajo. Un día que el hada estaba viajando a través de las montañas mientras estaba peinando sus cabellos en una fuente, los prakagorri le anunciaron que algo había moviéndose entre los helechos. Los duendes gritaron para llamar la atención del hada, y ante su sorpresa (ella no entendía como los humanos 8 www.laguncara.com [email protected]

el día, contándoles las historias que había aprendido de su padre cuando era pequeño. Los niños y niñas a partir de ese momento amaron mucho al Olentzero y ya no se sintieron tan solos como antes. Olentzero fue reconocido en el pueblo, y cada día, cuando llegaba a vender su carbón era rodeado por todos los niños. Esto sucedió durante muchos años hasta que un día hubo una tremenda tormenta en el pueblo, bosque y montañas, la cual destruyó muchas cosas. Los truenos, rayos y el frio dejaron muy asustadas a las gentes del pueblo y especialmente a los niños. Olentzero, que estaba de camino hacia el pueblo vio como un rayo caía en una casa. Se acercó y vio a unos niños en su interior muy asustados pidiendo ayuda dado que la casa ardía en llamas. Olentzero, cubrió a los niños con una manta para habían podido dejarlo abandonado), encontraron un bebé protegerles del fuego y los sacó a través de una ventana por humano. El hada le dijo al bebé: «tu nombre será Olentzero, el primer piso. Mientras él estaba tratando de salir, una gran porque es una cosa maravillosa haberte encontrado. Y por viga se desprendió y cayó sobre él provocando que su este acto, te daré los regalos de Fuerza, Coraje y Amor, por fuerte y gran corazón se detuviera. Las personas del todo el tiempo que tú vivas». Entonces cogió al niño y lo pueblo comenzaron a llorar por lo sucedido lamentándose llevo a una vieja casa en el límite del bosque donde vivían dado que no había nada que ellos pudieran hacer. un hombre y una mujer que no tenían hijos. Así que, En ese mismo momento fueron sorprendidos por una sabiendo el hada que serían muy felices de recibir al bebé, brillante luz que salía de la casa. Nadie pudo ver lo que lo dejó enfrente de su puerta para que lo encontraran. sucedíó. Dentro de ella, apareció el hada que había Muy pronto, al amanecer, cuando el hombre se levantó encontrado al Olentzero cuando era un bebe en el bosque a ordeñar las vacas encontró al bebé y corriendo gritó y se muchos años antes, esta le llamo por su nombre con su lo enseñó a su esposa. Muy contentos de haber recibido a dulce voz. El hada le dijo: "Olentzero, tú has sido un buen ese niño, rápidamente lo taparon con una frazada, le dieron hombre, lleno de fe y de buen corazón. Has dedicado toda de comer y lo tomaron como su hijo. A partir de ese tu vida a hacer cosas para los demás, y has dado hasta tu momento, Olentzero creció entre los bosques y se convirtió propia vida para salvar a otras personas. Por lo tanto no en un fuerte, amable y saludable hombre que nunca tuvo la quiero que mueras, quiero que vivas para siempre. De preocupación de cómo había llegado a ser encontrado por ahora en adelante tú harás juguetes y otros regalos para los sus padres. niños que no tienen padres en todos los rincones de Euskal Olentzero trabajaba todos los días del año haciendo Herria". Al oir esto, los prakagorris se apresuraron a decir carbón y ayudando a su padre, pero lo inevitable sucedió y que ellos le ayudarían. después de muchos años, los que habían sido sus Y a partir de ese momento así sucedió. En la mitad del progenitores murieron y Olentzero se quedó muy solo en su invierno, al final de cada año, Olentzero va por todos los casa del bosque haciéndose viejo con el paso de los años. pueblos de Euskal Herria repartiendo juguetes a los niños Poco a poco fue entristeciendo y se fue dando cuenta de que no tienen padres ni abuelos que les hagan regalos. Los que lo que necesitaba era ayudar a otras personas. Recordó niños de todos los que en el pueblo había una casa donde vivían los niños que pueblos celebran la no tenían padres, ellos vivían de lo que la gente del pueblo llegada del Olentzero les daba, "esos niños son solitarios como yo" - pensó cantando canciones y Olentzero, así que trató de hacer algo para que fueran más esparciendo felices. mensajes de amor. Así que, como Olentzero era muy hábil haciendo cosas Muchas personas con las manos, se dispuso a hacer juguetes para los niños no creen que el y muñecas para las niñas con la idea de dárselos cuando Olentzero exista pero fuera al pueblo a vender carbón. Cuando acabó de hacer muchas otras las muñecas y los juguetes, los metió todos en un saco, lo sostienen que entre cargó en su burro junto al carbón y marchó al pueblo muy los vascos existe todo contento pensando en lo que iba a hacer. lo que tenga un Olentzero les dio los regalos a los niños quienes los nombre y realmente recibieron muy contentos, él estuvo jugando con ellos todo queramos que exista. CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 9

PAST EVENTS salida del trabajo e iban todos juntos al pub a compartir unas Guinness a cuenta de la empresa; 3 Navidades con CARA en Bilbao como Xabi adora Irlanda y sus gentes y lo muestra a través de los nombres de su hija, su perrito y su by Edurne Barrañano correo electrónico; que si qué ciudad irlandesa se ([email protected]) parece más a Bilbao, que si Cork, que si Belfast, eh! que también Dublín con su río Liffey me Mis amigos Javi y Encar no conocen Irlanda: recuerda a Bilbao... desde hace tiempo ella quiere viajar allí; él todavía necesita pensarlo y, quizás para salir de dudas, este año han venido a la Fiesta de Navidad de la Asociación Vasco-Irlandesa Cara. Sábado 13 diciembre 2010, Café Antzokia, Bilbao. En la calle, Asier toca la gaita para dar una calurosa bienvenida y arrancarnos una sonrisa antes de entrar. ¡Cuánta gente! ¡Pensaba que estarías en una mesa no más...! – exclaman mis amigos. Las mesas están ocupadas por hombres y mujeres, adultos y niños, Vascos, nacidos en Irlanda, descendientes de irlandeses, incluso algunos ingleses, todos amigos, todos con el corazón tocado por la isla. Porque allí conocieron a alguien..., estudiaron eso, vivieron De entre todas las actividades de CARA, este aquello..., y fueron más jóvenes y viajaron a otras es el día más especial y multitudinario, tanto para ciudades y países y ahora están aquí. Cada uno las personas que se quedan en Bilbao como para podría contar una historia diferente. Mis amigos las que se irán a Eire en Navidad. Miro alrededor, escuchan, sorprendidos e interesados, como los nos saludamos unos a otros, y me doy cuenta que viernes Gabi fichaba con sus compañeros a la algunas personas nos encontramos sólo una vez al año, y esto también tiene su gracia. Mientras tanto, ya ha llegado Santa Claus, y es que en ningún sitio uno está seguro de si va a venir puntualmente, tampoco en CARA. Pero aquí está y, como la latitud lo pide, ¡¡¡lleva gafas de sol!!! Mientras los niños le rodean expectantes Santa Claus va ofreciendo su regalo: este año son cepillos y pasta de dientes, todo un detalle. Y en un pis pas, los niños están sentados frente a platos de pasta...y al ver tantos niños pequeños, uno piensa que sí que son prolíficos estos irlandeses y sus amigos, y para no echar la culpa a terceros, una ya aporta la parejita. Después les espera una obra de teatro de Payasos Sesadis. ¡Qué gran día para la chiquillería! Le pregunto a mis hijos Sean y Anne de 6 y 10 años qué si les gusta la asociación CARA y me responden “….”. Nosotros mayores podemos sentarnos para comer, charlamos con Naomi y Gorka, con Fiona 10 www.laguncara.com [email protected]

los últimos jueves de mes en el bar Residence une sus canciones contundentes con el calor de la música ‘session’ orquestado por Mike, Arantxa y Manu. ¡Cuánto más rápido fluye la sangre con el sonido de los ‘Uillean Pipes’ de Andoni! Mientras tanto se retiran algunas mesas del espacio central del Café Antzokia: con ecos del barrio de Otxarkoaga, y al arranque de algunos reels empezaron a avanzar, retirar, ‘threes’ and ‘sevens’ y girar. Este año sí se ha podido bailar los ‘Walls of Limerick’, gracias a la persistencia e ilusión de Seamus, David, Guren, Iraide, Pat y de muchos niños. Luego, en una especie de fusión cultural impredecible se oyeron los gritos de Asier: ‘erdiska’, jausi, ‘dobla’ y los mismos hicieron un y Patxi, con Cormac y Eunate... Y me doy cuenta gran ‘Zaspi Jausi’. que todas las Fiestas de Navidad de CARA tienen Mi sensación de vuelta a casa, después de los mismos elementos –una estupenda comida y dejar el Café Antzokia y The Residence, es que lo bebida, músicos, baile, actuaciones para niños y habíamos pasado fenomenal de principio a fin, las rifas y un ambiente muy caloroso, lo llaman ‘craic’ personas rebosaban energía… y que, quizás, lo aparentemente- pero que siempre son distintas. Y que más define a los irlandeses es esas ganas entonces recuerdo mi primera fiesta en 2008 en que tienen de que tú lo pases bien entre ellos. Astrabudua con aquel magnífico guiñol de Joe, ¿Qué opinas tú? David y Kieran que me robó el corazón. Un abrazo desde aquí a Kieran, Ane y familia, que han seguido el viaje de vuelta al norte. Y en 2009 mi Meeting of CARA board - February 2011 segunda fiesta en La Arboleda, en la que ya me reencontraba con algunos de vosotros, disfrutando On 4th February last, the CARA management de los villancicos, los músicos y el baile. committee met to celebrate another year of CARA Y este año estamos en el corazón de Bilbao..., activities and to plan events for 2011. An excellent y el regalo del viaje a Irlanda ha bendecido a meal, presided by our visionary President and Manu, gracias a Aerlingus. Por cierto, ¡qué alegría board members, was enjoyed by all in the encontrar financiación para poder entretener a los Restaurante Passerella (Bilbao). Planning included peques y reunirnos este día! Así que, en justa in particular St. Patrick's Week celebrations and correspondencia, quiero nombrar a todas las the 2011 Summer Picnic. organizaciones que nos han ayudado; Va por ustedes: Sanitas, Primark, Iris Summer Camp, Aerlingus, L@s Informátika, Panda Software, Murphy´s, Bord Bía, The Residence, The Wicklow Arms, Scanlan's. Thank you! Go raibh maith agabh go leír! Allí donde haya irlandeses habrá músicos. Doctor Flashback (Carlos, Josean, Juan y Chema) sube primero al escenario y volvemos a los años setenta recordando grupos como ‘The Band’ y ‘Creedence’, incluso un dulce “Whiskey on a Sunday’. El tiempo aprieta y Jonnny, el mago de CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 11

St. Patrick's Celebrations - March 2011

A complete range of activities was organized this year to celebrate St. Patrick's Day - or week, as it is becoming! These included a Key Meal on St. Patrick's Day itself, celebrated in the Botavara Restaurante in Bilbao, which included a motivating speech by Dr. Juan Duran on the importance of thinking critically in today's society. The talk was titled "On the Obligation to Doubt". Further details of the events throughout the week are outlined below.

Sunday 13 March 2011, 11.30 h

WHAT: Irish/Basque Dance/Song Workshop for Adults & Kids (Otxarkoaga, Bilbao). Followed by Menu del Día at 13.30 h in a nearby restaurante.

WHERE: Sala de Danzas, Centro Cívico Otxarkoaga Auzo Etxea, Bilbao.

Wednesday 16th March, 21.00 h

WHAT: St. Patrick’s Eve Live Irish Music "Seisiún Cheoil Ghaelach"

WHERE: ResidenceCafe, Bilbao, with uilleann pipes, bodhrán, whistles, fiddles, concertina. Authentically Irish/ Basque! 12 www.laguncara.com [email protected]

Friday 18th March, 22.00 h CARA STRATEGIC REFLECTION - Version 2.0 - Feb. 2010 WHAT: San Patrizioko Kontzertua. Featuring Barry Kerr & During a meeting of the CARA management board in 2009, it was decied Ruben Bada. Gaita irlandesa, flautas, guitarra... to commence a "Strategic Reflection" with a view to identifying clearly what we want CARA to be over the next few years. One way of doing this WHERE: The Piper’s Irish Pub, Avda. Basagoiti, 47, Algorta is to define VISION, MISSION and VALUE statements. As a rework of (Vizcaya). the initial suggestions by the Board, taking on board comments received from other members, please read the following new suggestions. Do they coincide with your ideas? Would you prefer to modify them? Would Sunday 20th March you like to suggest completely new ones? Please feel free to send your feedback to Seamus M. ([email protected]). When we have Gernika "Tír na nÓg" Family day-out. statements we members agree on and resonate with, we can then 11.00 am Birdwatching. Parque de Europa, Gernika and/or proceed to elaborate the corresponding Strategic Plan for CARA. path along river from town to stork nests. Stroll around park, VISION listening to natural birdsongs. Explanation of calls and A vision is a statement about what the organization wants to become. songs by David Henderson. Questions and Answers. It should resonate with all members of the organization and help them Plastified sheets with pictures of the main songbirds will be feel proud, excited, and part of something much bigger than themselves. available to facilitate identification. Kids can bring bikes too. A vision should stretch the organization’s capabilities and image of itself. It gives shape and direction to the organization’s future. Bring your binoculars! For further information, contact: Proposal: CARA aspires to becoming a welcoming, tolerant, vibrant David Henderson at [email protected] community of diverse people with Irish/Basque interests, renowned for providing active, quality, caring support for its members and for contributing through our synergy to the enrichment and integration of the plural society in which we live.

MISSION Mission is a precise description of what the organization does. It should describe the activities the organization is in. It is a definition of “why” the organization exists currently. Proposal: - To provide an effective forum for the fruitful interaction of Irish people living in or around the Basque Country, with native Basques, enhancing relations between diverse individuals and families at all levels of society (culture, business, entertainment, etc.). - To promote the interaction and communication of its members by organizing enjoyable and valuable social events which celebrate the Irish and Basque cultures. - To actively promote our common values of welcoming, caring, fun and 13.30 h Pub Grub in Scanlan’s Tavern. See menu at http:/ a bit of "craic". /www.laguncara.com/images/docs/ScanlanMenu.pdf or - CARA focuses more on our shared interests and values than on our differences, following the principle that "union differentiates". Menu a la carte in neighboring restaruant. VALUES 16.00 h Irish/Basque dancing and Live Irish Music. Values are the broadly defined as the way we do things, the key All welcome (beginners + professionals; adults + kids). approaches the organization will use to accomplish its mission and drive toward the vision. Proposals KNOWLEDGE of our different cultures and peoples as a basis for RESPECT: seeing people as they are, not merely tolerating, but actively appreciating their individuality and uniqueness, thereby consolidating public interest, trust and pride in CARA. RESPONSIBILITY: the ability or readiness to respond to the needs of our times, together with a leadership which is vigorous, professional and transparent in its service of the members of the Association. CARING for the society in which we live, empowering each member to Mario Atorrasagasti, a make her/his own contribution based on specific talents/expertise/ young member of CARA's experience.

Irish Basque Community Send your feedback and proposals to: looking forward to a fun- filled St Patrick´s Day in ([email protected]) Euskadi. CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 13

Badator Korrika!!! would be great to see as many Irish people as possible there with Irish flags and regalia (the odd by David Henderson sod of turf, any old Brian Kennedy record, soda ([email protected]) bread, the holy black stuff, etc) to show where we’re from. To those of you who are not familiar with the The half kilometre that we are sponsoring costs Korrika, it is a popular community marathon run 133 Euros so we would need people to dig into throughout the Basque Country. This year the their pockets and contribute 10 Euro towards its Korrika started on 7thh April in Trebiño and end cost whether they can participate or not. Cara has with a festival in Donostia on 17th April. Each agreed to promote awareness of the event among kilometre of the Korrika is sponsored by individuals, its members, but the bulk of the money would have organisations and businesses with the aim of to be paid by both members and non-members. raising as much money as possible in order to help The easiest thing would be to transfer the money AEK, the organisers of the Korrika, who are into Cara’s account 3035-0122-86-1220-0213-58 dedicated to the teaching of Basque to adults. But (Caja Laboral Popular) with the word Korrika and the Korrika itself is an opportunity to bring people inform Cara of the transfer at together, have a bit of fun, do a bit of sport and [email protected]. Alternatively, the money ultimately show their support for the Basque could be given on the day to "Saint Patrick" himself language. If you have ever taken part in a Korrika who will be there to give his blessing. Let’s hope you will understand the excitement it generates as that between everyone we can contribute just a people of all ages wait expectantly for the sound of little bit to one of the biggest events in the Basque distant music which signals that the Korrika is cultural calendar. Anima zaitez!!! about to arrive.

The Irish community has been actively present in three Korrikas, one in Sestao many years ago CARA Annual General Meeting (AGM) thanks to sponsorship from Mike Moulton from The Wicklow Arms (Bilbao) and various personal This year's AGM was held in the Alhondiga, Bilbao contributions, and both four and two years ago on Friday 20th May, followed by a sumptuous thanks to Cara. This year I would hope that the meal in the Italian Passerella restaurante, Alameda Irish would be prepared to take part in running half Urquijo, Bilbao. Our thanks to the outgoing board a kilometre in Astrabudua, Erandio. Our kilometre members, including Iraide Sagarda, Román is to be run on Saturday 16th April at Basurto and former Secretary Mike Murphy, for approximately 09:00 from the Plaza Murueta in their presence among us and contributions, each Astrabudua, not too far from the Metro station. It in their own way, to the Board. We express our 14 www.laguncara.com [email protected]

y con la Irlanda de 1992 como telón de fondo (a punto de desperezarse el Tigre Celta, a punto de agotarse el ciclo de violencia en el Norte, a punto de construirse la Unión Europea…), va desfilando un mosaico de personajes: un potentado encerrado en su castillo, un artista que pinta desnudo, una mujer misteriosa que vive en el bosque, un inspector lleno de complejos, un ministro que no sabe decir Ballydungael, un hombre perdido que pregunta una dirección, un chino que habla irlandés… y, como un actor más, la frontera de la partición que marca sus vidas. Chesús authors the widely consulted blog about warm welcome to Maria-Jesús Cambra who was ireland Innisfree which can be consulted at: nominated as the new Vocal for Events and to the http://innisfree1916.wordpress.com/ new Secretary, David Fogarty. Wishing you a fruitful and productive time on the Board.

Presentation of Chesús Yuste's novel "La Mirada del Bosque" FNAC, Bilbao - April 2011

A small, but distinguished group of CARA members accompanied Chesús Yuste during the presentation of his new novel. Chesús, who is from Zaragoza, has a long-standing interest in and passion for Ireland and the Irish. WHAT: Irish/Basque Dancing Classes for Adults and Kids WHEN: Throughout 2011 WHERE: Centro Cívico, Otxarkoaga (Bilbao)

Thanks to the untiring initiative of Seamus McQuaid and in collaboration with Asier Bilbao,

En esta historia de intriga, con el sabor y sentido del humor de los cuentos irlandeses, CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 15 the second round of Irish/Basque Dancing UPCOMING EVENTS Classes was held from October-June 2011 in the Centro Cívico de Otxarkoaga. Both young WHAT: Music workshop and meal with Niamh and younger(!) joined in. The next classes are Ní Charra scheduled to be held on October 2011. Classes WHEN: September 2011 begin at 11.30 h till 13.00 h, after which we go for WHERE: Bilbao an aperitivo nearby and a Menu del Dia and after the customary Café, Copa y Puro, head The world-famous Irish musician Niamh Ní Charra home around 18.00 h. A complete day indeed! has very kindly agreed to participate with CARA in To join up, send an e-mail to Seamus at: an informal event centered around Irish and Basque [email protected]. Please note that no music. For more details, see CARA web at: previous experience is required. http://www.laguncara.com

WHAT: Urdaibai Family Pic-Nic WHEN: Saturday 8th October 2011 WHERE: Torre Madariaga, Gernika

We are currently planning a day out for all the family, including a visit to the Torre Madariaga Centro de Interpretación, near Gernika and a guided tour of the Urdaibai marshes, followed by a canoe trip down the river. More details to appear on the web at www.laguncara.com 16 www.laguncara.com [email protected]

NEWS and JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Irish Summer Camp (ISC) by Adolfo Pérez Muela ([email protected])

The essence of our childhood has always been in the summer…. "If you live within the most tight and secluded forest, if nobody knows you, even if nobody knows where you live, but at the same time you produce the best cricket cage of this world, then you do not worry: the world will open a path through the forest to reach the cabin where you live", the philosopher Emerson ADOLFO PÉREZ MUELA said. Irish Summer Camp offers children’s holidays in English. CAMP DIRECTOR Our children have completed an intensive school year; they [email protected] too have felt the same pressure as adults feel in our working life. www.irishsummercamp.com Now we have an opportunity to change their lifestyle, they can Santoña, a 9 de Febrero de 2011 see things from a new perspective, they can have fun….It’s POL. IND. LAS MARISMAS, Nº 5 summer! 39740 SANTOÑA Here is where we come in, offering a new approach to education which is lacking in the formal education systems that they are used to (at school and within the family). We know they are on vacation, but children still feel the need to be stimulated intellectually. Where are we? The area of Soba is located in the far southeast of Cantabria, bordering on the provinces of Burgos and Vizcaya. It is one of the lesser known areas of Cantabria and also well preserved, offering us a beautiful landscape. If you require further information, please visit the website: www.irishsummercamp.com In 2011, the theme of the camp will be directed at learning about the life of Irish people since ancient times and their relationship with Spanish people, the things that unite us, the things we have in common…

Do you want to work with us? ISC is recruiting English speaking instructors with experience in early childhood education, who have some interest or experience in one of the following areas: theatre, Irish dancing (Ceilidh), environmental studies (biology, botany), outdoor games, sports, or some first aid knowledge. If you are interested, please send your CV along with a brief summary of your experience in your speciality and your enthusiasm for working with children. Irish Summer Camp offers a contract of employment from July to mid August 2011. CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 17

NEWS and JOB OPPORTUNITIES El centro esta en fase de preparación para abrirse el día 1 de Marzo de 2011 y esta situado Daddytxo.ESC en la Calle Labeaga 2(bajo) de Urretxu. 20700. (English Speaking Centre) Para contactar con nosotros: Mob: 652.705.676 by Macrea Clark Tel: 943.037.771 ([email protected]) e-mail: [email protected]

Se esta preparando en Urretxu (Gipuzcoa) la apertura de un centro educativo enfocado en el Guardería y escuela infantil en inglés apoyo y soporte para niño/as desde los 6 años by Susan Diggory quienes quieren aprender a hablar el idioma anglo ([email protected]) sajón. DADDYTXO es un centro totalmente dedicado al hablar, utilizando materiales aptos para las edades correspondientes de grupos desde las 6 a 8 años, 8 a 10 años, 10 a 12 años. El profesor dará clases trabajando la pronunciación y ampliando vocabulario. Con una gama de proyectos creativos, utilizando programas de ordenadores para grabar video e audio material para que cada alumno/a se acostumbra a hablar ingles. Así, cada alumno de este centro puede hacer un seguimiento de su propio desarrollo. De los 6 años hasta los 12 años habrá material adaptado a sus necesidades. El enfoque del hablar es algo en el aprendizaje que generalmente no se dedica mucho tiempo. La WHAT: intención de este centro es sencillamente sacar Sunshine Nursery and Preschool is a part of provecho del hecho de que la mayoría de los niño/ Sunshine Learning Centre. as que viven aquí sea bi/trilingüe, lo cual les For children from 1 to 5 years old facilitá a la hora de aprender otro idioma sea cual * Open 8:30 to 17:00 (possibility of mornings only, sea. until 13:00) * Experienced native teachers * Learning through music and songs, hands-on natural science * Based on Montessori principles where children learn at their own pace * Lots of individual attention, with low child/teacher ratio of only 6:1

WHERE: Rodríguez Arias, 55 – Bilbao Now registering. +INFO: Tel: 94-439- 8004 (Susan Diggory) - Web: www.sunshinelearningcentre.es 18 www.laguncara.com [email protected]

OPINION parole. In fact, the longest serving prisoner will soon have served nearly 31 years in prison! The Gernika Agreement The main Spanish political parties, the PSOE and the PP, have even been able to form a by David Henderson government in the Basque parliament thanks to ([email protected]) the fact that although Batasuna is illegal tens of thousands of its supporters reject voting for other Over the last thirty years or so there have been nationalist parties and have consistently voted for various attempts at finding a peaceful solution to illegal electoral lists which are then declared null the Basque conflict, the last one just 4 years ago and void. The most visible spokesperson for in 2006 when ETA declared a ceasefire, followed Batasuna is Arnaldo Otegi, who is now in prison by talks between members of Batasuna (illegal accused of being a member of a terrorist Left-wing Basque nationalist party), the PNV organization. Yet, together with other leaders of (moderate Basque centre-right nationalist party) Batasuna, Arnaldo Otegi has been instrumental in and the PSE (Spanish Socialist party of Euskadi). convincing not only supporters of Batasuna of the The talks broke down amid mutual accusations of need for an unarmed political strategy but also responsibility and ETA ended its ceasefire with a ETA. There have been numerous calls for his bomb in Barajas airport in Madrid which left two release so that he can continue this work. Few Ecuadorean immigrant workers dead. After this people in the Basque Country would doubt his bomb the Spanish government stated that it sincerity and compromise at finding a peaceful would never again have talks with ETA or any of its solution to the conflict in the Basque Country. interlocutors. It continued its policy of considering It is in this context that the Gernika Agreement any political organisation that refused to condemn would appear to offer the best possible hope for a ETA as being a part of ETA and many more of the peaceful solution to a conflict which has gone on leaders of the banned political party Batasuna much too long. The agreement was signed last were arrested and sent to prison charged with September 2010 by the Basque political parties trying to continue the political work of this party Abertzale Batasuna Alternativa, Aralar, Ezker which the Spanish government claims is an Abertzalea (Batasuna), Eusko Alkartasuna and integral part of ETA. The Spanish government has Ezker Batua as well as some trade unions and also continued its policy of sending Basque various other associations. However, despite prisoners to the prisons furthest away from the considering the agreement to be a very positive Basque Country and denying them any form of step the main Basque nationalist party, the PNV, has not yet signed up to the agreement, more due to its wider political strategies than to any fundamental objections to the contents of the agreement. So far, the PSOE itself has tried to avoid seeing anything new in this agreement but more recently members of the party in the Basque Country have started to show discrepancies with the leadership on this matter. Not surprisingly perhaps, the Spanish centre-right PP has condemned any attempt to talk about anything except handing over of arms. But the agreement itself is very clear on many aspects and anyone familiar with the Irish Peace CARA - Spring/Summer 2011 19 process will recognize many of the key elements Reader's Corner in the Gernika Agreement. Indeed, one of the most important parts of the agreement is the one in Kate O'Brien and the Fiction of Identity which a requirement is made to sign up to the Mitchel principles which ensures that only A feminist investigation into the work of a key democratic and exclusively peaceful means be writer of the twentieth century, Kate O’Brien. The used to resolve the conflict. The Agreement calls book focuses on O’Brien’s autobiographical female on ETA to declare a permanent, unilateral and bildungsroman Mary Lavelle, published (and verifiable ceasefire (something which was declared banned) in 1936. That novel is used to re-interpret in January of this year) and on the government to all of O’Brien’s work (and some of her little- repeal the most repressive measures of its prison documented life), and to suggest a number of new policy. It also calls for an end to all forms of approaches to queer and activist literature, violence or threats of violence as well as the derogation of the law banning political parties. It also calls on citizen groups to give their backing to the Agreement and significantly it proposes that an international group to verify that the Agreement is not violated. Certainly there is bound to be a lot of skepticism about the definitiveness of an ETA ceasefire given the number of break downs in the past. Nor is there much room for optimism regarding the government´s negative response but from the Irish experience we now know that many unimaginable things are possible. Who would have said that they would live to see the day when Martin McGuiness and Ian Paisley would be Deputy and First Ministers respectively in a Stormont government? Today in the Basque Country this subjectivity in fiction, historical novels, postcolonial Agreement offers, to my mind, the best opportunity analysis, canonical authors, intermediality, life- for a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Basque writing, and modernism. The book investigates in Country but it needs the support, not just of the detail the important connections of Kate O’Brien political parties but also the support of as many with the Basque Country, where she lived for a citizens groups as possible. Surely we Irish should formative period in the 1920s. Kate O’Brien and see the need to give our backing to such an the Fiction of Identity was researched important Agreement and make it known outside conscientiously but it is designed to carry the the Basque Country? reader away... almost like a novel.

David Henderson (2/2/2011)