On Thursday, August 22, Jon Irazabal Agirre died at Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital. Author of many works on the history of the region, he was director of the Durango Fair for 30 years and manager of Gerediaga Elkartea between 1982 and 2018. Since he was 17 years old, he belonged to the association and from there they have pointed out that “Irazabal has been one of the main references for the investigation and dissemination of the history of the Duranguesado”. Irazabal created the Astola Research and History Journal, in which he wrote many articles.

Although he did not perform history studies, “thanks to his concerns and his struggle” the region of the Duranguesado has made a great contribution to know his history, according to the Association Gerediaga: “Since he was young he has shown his passion for knowing the origin, history and life of his surroundings (the Merindad of Durango, a land he called the Petty Petty).” He has worked on several lines of research, mainly in the 1937 Durango Bombardment. He wrote a book on this subject: Durango 1937 March 31, bombing.

He has worked to bring to light what happened in the 1936 war and to spread the origin of the Merindad of Durango, to name people who have been relevant in the history of the region and to recover many lost customs, according to Gerediaga Elkartea. In addition to the war of 1936, he also worked in the Basque folklore: “For many years he organized and promoted Duranguesado Swords Day. He also did a great job of publicizing the Dance and the Dance of Goruleta.” For this reason, among other recognitions, the Dantzaris Assembly of Bizkaia awarded him the Action Prize for Traditional Dance in 2019 and paid him a tribute on Duranguesado Swords Day in 2015.

Talking about the Durango Fair

In the talks with ARGIA, Irazabal stressed the importance of the Durango Fair and how for the Durango Basques it has become “the navel of the earth for a few days” and has become “an inescapable quote”.

Irazabal has also been critical. In an interview with the news item, he pointed out that the local research "is not enough" and stressed the importance of publicizing the works of the hobbies, alleging that "people feel like knowing". Irazabal pointed out in ARGIA that the Durango Fair was in Basque in the spring of 1986 to 1988, and as “they remained alone”, in the village it did not “blossom that plant”.