The 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival of Vilanova de Arousa celebrates its big day today with a successful influx of visitors. This has been highlighted by the mayor of Vilanova, Gonzalo Durán Hermida, who has presided, together with the regions ministers of Education, Román Rodríguez, and of Housing, María Martínez, and with the president of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, Luis López, the central act of the day. This included the awarding of the Gold and Diamond Badges and the event’s opening speech, which was also attended by numerous regional, provincial and local representatives.
In his speech, Gonzalo Durán stressed that “today we celebrate the rebirth of the town, and its culture, with the three honourees of this thirtieth year of the Mussel and Cockle Festival.” In the first place, he spoke about María del Carmen del Valle Galbán, who “in addition to having more than enough merits to receive this award for her career as a restorer of Renaissance art, has been kind enough to cede to the Town Council the use of a good part of the Pazo de Rúa Nova, owned by her family, for the organisation of cultural activities.”
The president of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra was in charge of awarding the Badge to the honouree. María del Carmen Del Valle Galbán thanked “the recognition of culture” made by the Town Council with this year’s awards. In her speech, she recalled with great affection her childhood in the Pazo de Rúa Nova and was “very happy to be able to collaborate by opening this space for culture and history. It has many possibilities both to enjoy and to take courses and extend the legacy of Valle-Inclán beyond Spain,” she concluded.
The second award went to the Association of Friends of Valle-Inclán. Gonzalo Durán highlighted the work carried out by the entity, which “has built the cultural renaissance of Vilanova de Arousa, with initiatives such as the magazine Cuadrante, the Mari Gaila Awards ceremony and the Festivalle Theatre Festival.” The Regional Minister of Education presented the Badge to the president of the Association, José María Paz Gago, who expressed thanks for the recognition made by the Town Council and recalled the importance of the figure of Valle-Inclán. “He is considered the greatest writer of Spanish literature after Cervantes and of universal theatre, after Shakespeare. For this reason, we will always vindicate his biography and work,” he added. Paz Gago took the opportunity to announce that “the Association is going to welcome other great writers, such as the Camba Brothers, so that all the writers of Vilanova de Arousa will be present in our studies.”
Opening speech by Fernando Casal
Finally, the Vilanova councillor defined the third honouree and opening speaker of the 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival, Fernando Casal Tacón, as “an all-terrain professional who revived culture and music in Vilanova. More than 40 years ago, in the Church of A Pastoriza he gave bagpipe classes and many of his students are now members of landmark folk groups,” added Gonzalo Durán.
The Regional Minister of Housing presented the Gold and Diamond Badge. In his opening speech, Fernando Casal stressed the importance of “conveying our legacy and our culture” to the new generations. In this sense, he recalled his times as a bagpipe teacher in the Church of A Pastoriza. From these classes “came the Vilanova Bagpipe Band, founded in 1982, and which performed in prominent places.”
Making uses of his knowledge as a pharmacist, Casal highlighted the nutritional qualities of mussels and cockles. “They are very nutritious molluscs, rich in protein and low in calories,” he said, while recalling that in his time as a footballer they were part of his basic diet. The opening speaker encouraged residents and visitors to enjoy this festival and these delicious products and “a town as beautiful and welcoming as Vilanova de Arousa.”
The figures of the previous event have been exceeded
The opening speech of the 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival was held next to the gastronomic tent located in the Plaza de O Castro, where a large influx of diners has been registered, exceeding the figures of the previous festival. In this space, which is the epicentre of the festival, you can taste different dishes with these bivalves as the main ingredients at popular prices. An ideal opportunity to discover the true flavour of the two flagship products of Vilanova de Arousa.
For its part, the Opportunities Fair, which takes place on Avenida de O Recheo, has also registered a large influx of visitors, especially on Friday and today. In this sense, the Vilanova Centro Association is very satisfied with the results obtained so far in terms of attendance.
The 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival will end tonight with the concert of Roi Casal in the Jardín Umbrío. The evening event that will put the finishing touch to the festive program will begin at 9:30 p.m., with free admission.