Ondarroa - UK - Ondarroa

The Etxepare Basque Institute has taken part in the fair The London Language Show, sharing a stand with Langune. The professor at the Liverpool University Juan Arana Cobos, the writer Kirmen Uribe and the reader of the University of Liverpool Gorka Mercero have attended the fair, representing the Basque language, Euskera, in the annual event for the dissemination of the languages and language industries.

The agenda of the writer Kirmen Uribe, though, included more stops through the UK, and as in the Language Show, where he sold all the volumes of his book, he enjoyed a warm reception. He offered talks and recitals in Oxford University, at the King’s College of London and at the Free World Lecture Theatre, while presenting the English translation of his book “Bilbao- New York- Bilbao”.

The adventure finished on Saturday, and Mari Jose Olaziregi, Director for the Promotion and Dissemination of the Basque Language of the Institute, sent us a report when she arrived home:

“We landed from London on Saturday night, and our first stop was in Ondarroa. Kirmen was back at home, happy, after presenting the translation into English of his book “Bilbao- New York- Bilbao” in London and Oxford. Really glad.

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 The Etxepare Basque Institute has taken part in the fair The London Language Show, sharing a stand with Langune. The professor at the Liverpool University Juan Arana Cobos, the writer Kirmen Uribe and the reader of the University of Liverpool Gorka Mercero have attended the fair, representing the Basque language, Euskera, in the annual event for the dissemination of the languages and language industries.

The agenda of the writer Kirmen Uribe, though, included more stops through the UK, and as in the Language Show, where he sold all the volumes of his book, he enjoyed a warm reception. He offered talks and recitals in Oxford University, at the King’s College of London and at the Free World Lecture Theatre, while presenting the English translation of his book “Bilbao- New York- Bilbao”.

The adventure finished on Saturday, and Mari Jose Olaziregi, Director for the Promotion and Dissemination of the Basque Language of the Institute, sent us a report when she arrived home:

“We landed from London on Saturday night, and our first stop was in Ondarroa. Kirmen was back at home, happy, after presenting the translation into English of his book “Bilbao- New York- Bilbao” in London and Oxford. Really glad. On October 15 he offered an emotive talk in front of about 50 people in the Torch room of the University of Oxford. The following day, and invited by the professor Nagore Calvo, at the famous King’s College of London. Meanwhile, our colleague Joseba Epelde had the stand ready at the London Language Show. On the following day, 17, the fair started early in the morning, with the company of Farnando Alana, from Langune, and with Idoia Mujika and Begoña Garcia. While Juan Arana, from the Liverpool University, was offering a talk in front of 40 surprised students, Kirmen Uribe and his publisher, Mick Felton were signing books at the Foyles book store, in Charing Cross. The novel “Bilbao- New York- Bilbao” will be part of the monthly list “Pick of the month”. Felton, the publisher of Serenbooks, was really pleased, as he was that afternoon after the presentation in Free Word. There, friends and acquaintances; among them, the writer Garazi Goia. A good atmosphere, emotive, at the recital of Kirmen Uribe and Richard Chandler at the Language Show. A lot of people was at the fair that day. Among the audience, Miren Button Irujo, touched by his husband Richard’s words. It was really nice to see the smile in the listeners faces and how much they enjoyed the recital. We couldn’t ask for anything more.  

Mari Jose Olaziregi

In the pictures:

- Kirmen Uribe and Richard Chandler at the London Language Show.

- Kirmen Uribe and the publisher Mick Felton at the Free Word Lecture Theatre.

- Kirmen Uribe and Mari Jose Olaziregi at the Free Word Lecture Theatre.

- Talk of Gorka Mercero, reader of the University of Liverpool, at the London Language Show.