euskalkultura.eus

La Plata, Argentina. The University of the East (UDE), in La Plata, recognized Uruguayan researcher, Alberto Irigoyen Artetxe as Doctor Honoris Cause, in an initiative supported by the Free Chair of Euskera and Basque Culture of the university and the Euzko Etxea Basque Club in La Plata.  The ceremony was presided by the university’s president, Carlos E. Orazi and the Rector, Maria de las Mercedes Reitano, along with a large audience that included representatives of the Basque Government, and members and friends of the Euzko Etxea in La Plata, and members of the Juan de Garay Foundation among other entities as well as friends and colleagues.

The official event was held on October 20th and began with the Uruguayan and Argentine national anthems sung by the club’s choir and an Aurresku performed by Clara Urra.  This was followed by some words by Gorka Alvarez Aranburu, Basque Government's Director for the  Basque Community Abroad who stressed the relevant work carried out by Alberto Irigoyen Artetxe and his contribution to the Basque community and Basque clubs making available to them Basque press published outside of the Basque Country from 1875-1975, on DVD, a work that is currently available to the general public here: http://urazandi.euskaletxeak.net.

Alberto Irigoyen thanked everyone for the recognition and shared his career explaining what his initial steps were in this historic recovery.

Alberto Irigoyen Artetxe, born in Montevideo is a member of the Euskal Erria Basque Club of the Uruguayan capital city and grandson of one of the members othe Commission who welcomed Lehendakari Aguirre when he arrived in Uruguay in 1941 fleeing the Gestapo.  Irigoyen Artetxe was the president of the Euskal Etxea in Durazno (1993-1995), and Vice-president (1996-1998).  In 1996, he was Uruguay’s delegate at the 1^st Congress of Basque Collectivities, celebrated in Vitoria-Gasteiz.  In 1999, he received the “Andres de Irujo” prize for his work “Laurak Bat in Montevideo (1876-1898), with ample documentation on the first Basque institutions created in Uruguay.  He has also published historic novels on Basque topics The Bastard and The Super Shout of Gora Euskadi.

Remembering Carlos Irisarri

As part of the ceremony, they read the Resolution by the University of the East to designate the Chair of Euskera and Basque Culture by the name “Dr. Carlos Irisarri,” in honor of its director who passed away on September 24^th.