Korrika to run in Dublin!

dublin | history and heritage | event notice Wednesday April 01, 2009 16:22 by Cormac Mac Gall

Basque and Irish runners to run a mini-Korrika in Dublin on Saturday 4th April

Irish and Basque runners will stage a mini-Korrika in Dublin on Saturday 4th April and hold a fund-raising event after at the Cobblestone in order to raise funds for the promotion of the Basque language in the Basque Country. The Korrika runs every two years in the Basque Country, attracting around 600,000 participants. The current Korrika is being held currently, to cover 2,500 kilometres and last 11 days, non-stop, with runners running even through the night.

Most people who visit the Basque country, especially the southern provinces, are impressed by the advances being made by the Basque language, Euskara, not only in the schooling system, where the majority of children in three of the four southern provinces are now receiving their education through the medium of the language but also in its daily use -- particularly among the Basque use. Unfavourable comparisons with the progress of the Irish language are inevitable, despite Éamonn Ó Cuív's recent statement that Irish is not in danger as it is the official language of the Irish state.

The Basques, despite the partition of their country and the fact that they have not yet achieved independent state status, just seem more serious about the promotion of their language. The Korrika is one immediately visible sign of this commitment. Korrika means a "run" in Euskara (Basque) and is the name of a country-wide walkathon organised by the Coordinator for Basque Language and Literacy/Learning (AEK) in support of the Basque language. The objective of the event is to enhance awareness of Basque and raise funds to carry out this work on a daily basis in AEK schools. Today AEK is the Basque Country’s most important organisation in the field of adult language education in Basque, with some 100 schools and more than 600 teachers.

The first Korrika took place in 1980 and it’s been organised every two years since then. The walkathon has become the Basque Country’s major event in terms of number of participants (around 600,000 people). Over the past 28 years 15 Korrika have been held.
This year's Korrika began on March 26th in Tudela (Nafarroa province) and will finish in Vitoria-Gastheiz (Alava province)on April 5th, lasting 11 days non-stop, covering 2,500 km throughout the Basque Country. As in previous years, hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and fitness levels are already taking part.

A hollow baton is carried during the walkathon and exchanges hands at each change of kilometre. Inside there is a message which will not be made public until Korrika ends on April 5th, when a well-known Basque personality will read it out loud.

Each kilometre of the course is “sold” to an organisation or individual who becomes the front runner for that section of the race, carrying that hollow baton, preserved from the first race held and adorned with the Ikurriña (Basque flag). Following the front runner, the main body of runners are led by a banner with this year’s slogan:
“Ongi Etorri euskaraz bizi nahi dugunon herrira !” (“Welcome to the land of the people who want to live through the Basque language!”). With this slogan, the Korrika this year is both paying tribute to the migrants who settle in the Basque country and send their children to the ikastolak (Basque-language schools) but also encouraging the adults to learn Euskara.

The Korrika is not just celebrated in the Basque Country. Basques around the world also organise events to show solidarity and raise funds. For the first time ever Basques and Irish are organising a mini-Korrika on Saturday 4th of April in Dublin.

Irish and Basque runners are to stage a mini-Korrika in Dublin on Saturday 4th April, starting at 6.30 pm sharp from the Ambassador cinema, O’Connell Street and finishing at 7pm at the Cobblestone Pub, 77 North King Street where a fund-raising function will be held. The documentary “Intimate journeys”, especially commissioned by AEK to celebrate this year’s Korrika, will be screened. Food and music will follow.

Friends and supporters plan to meet in Conway’s Pub, 70 Parnell Street at 6pm. Dublingo Korrikaren Txikiko Lagunak/ Dublin Friends of Korrika-Txiki say that they welcome participants and spectators along the route and also at the welcoming at the Cobblestone at 7 pm where entry is €5. The organisers state that all funds raised in excess of costs will be forwarded to AEK.