Irun
Encyclopedia
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque
Autonomous Community, Spain
. Nowadays it is widely accepted by the historic researcher community that Irun is the ancient Basque Roman town of Oiasso
on account of the vestiges (port, factory, etc.) disclosed lately in the historic nucleus of Irun, while the name itself may have applied to the whole surrounding area.
One of the biggest towns in Gipuzkoa, its border town situation (it is located on the border between Spain and France
, across the Bidasoa
river from Hendaye
), has made Irun into a commercial and logistic centre, with important railway infrastructure, where the SNCF
rails
meet the 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 in) broad gauge
Renfe
ones. Currently Irun features a fair ground provided with modern exhibition and telecommunication facilities just at some 100 metres away from the actual borderline at the Santiago Bridge (river Bidasoa
).
Irun is part of the conurbation of Txingudi bay with Hondarribia
and Hendaye
, the town being also involved in the Eurocité Basque Bayonne
-San Sebastián
.
One of its main festivals is the Alarde, a parade recreating an episode of the Peninsula War. Its main sports club is the Real Unión
where its football team plays in Spain's Segunda División
.
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
Autonomous Community, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Nowadays it is widely accepted by the historic researcher community that Irun is the ancient Basque Roman town of Oiasso
Oiasso
Oiasso, Oiasona or Oiarso was a Basque Roman town located on the left bank of the Bidasoa estuary in the Bay of Biscay . Archaeological evidence unearthed recently pinpoints the core area of Oiasso in the old quarter of Irun by the Spanish-French border, where harbour and bath remains have been...
on account of the vestiges (port, factory, etc.) disclosed lately in the historic nucleus of Irun, while the name itself may have applied to the whole surrounding area.
One of the biggest towns in Gipuzkoa, its border town situation (it is located on the border between Spain and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, across the Bidasoa
Bidasoa
The Bidasoa is a river in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southern France that runs largely south to north. Named as such downstream of the small town of Oronoz-Mugairi in the province of Navarre, the river actually results from the merge of several streams near the village Erratzu, with...
river from Hendaye
Hendaye
Hendaye is the most south-westerly town and commune in France, lying in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and located in the traditional province Lapurdi of the French Basque Country...
), has made Irun into a commercial and logistic centre, with important railway infrastructure, where the SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
rails
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
meet the 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 in) broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
Renfe
RENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
ones. Currently Irun features a fair ground provided with modern exhibition and telecommunication facilities just at some 100 metres away from the actual borderline at the Santiago Bridge (river Bidasoa
Bidasoa
The Bidasoa is a river in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southern France that runs largely south to north. Named as such downstream of the small town of Oronoz-Mugairi in the province of Navarre, the river actually results from the merge of several streams near the village Erratzu, with...
).
Irun is part of the conurbation of Txingudi bay with Hondarribia
Hondarribia
Hondarribia is a town situated on the west shore of Bidasoa river's mouth, in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain. The border town is sited on a little promontory facing Hendaye over the Txingudi bay. The town holds an ancient old quarter with walls and a castle...
and Hendaye
Hendaye
Hendaye is the most south-westerly town and commune in France, lying in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and located in the traditional province Lapurdi of the French Basque Country...
, the town being also involved in the Eurocité Basque Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
-San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
.
One of its main festivals is the Alarde, a parade recreating an episode of the Peninsula War. Its main sports club is the Real Unión
Real Unión
Real Unión Club de Irún, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Irun, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the province of Gipuzkoa, near the border with France...
where its football team plays in Spain's Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
.
People from Irun
- Luis MarianoLuis MarianoMariano Eusebio González y García aka Luis Mariano was a popular tenor of Spanish Basque origin who achieved celebrity in 1946 with « La belle de Cadix » an operetta by Francis Lopez...
, singer. - Amaia MonteroAmaia MonteroAmaia Montero Saldías , also known as the original vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh between 1996 and 2007, is a singer/songwriter from Basque Country, Spain. Including her work with the band, Montero has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide.-Background:Amaia Montero is the daughter of José...
, singer. - Alberto GórrizAlberto GórrizAlberto Górriz Echarte is a retired Spanish footballer who played mainly as a central defender.His main asset was his tremendous heading ability, and he often scored from set pieces...
, footballer. - Alberto López FernándezAlberto López FernándezAlberto López Fernández, simply Alberto , is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper....
, footballer. - Iñaki DescargaIñaki DescargaIñaki Descarga Retegui is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Unión in the Spanish third division.Mainly a central defender, he can also operate as right back.-Football career:...
, footballer. - Javier Garrido, footballer.
- Javier IruretaJavier IruretaJavier Iruretagoyena Amiano , Irureta for short, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a forward, and a current manager....
, footballer. - Javier YuberoJavier YuberoFrancisco Javier Yubero Solanilla was a Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
, footballer. - Luis RegueiroLuis RegueiroLuis Regueiro Pagola , sometimes nicknamed Corso, was a Spanish footballer. He played for Real Madrid from 1931 to 1936, scoring 53 goals in 92 matches...
, footballer. - Patricio ArabolazaPatricio ArabolazaPatricio Arabolaza Aranburu , also known as simply Patricio, was a Spanish football player who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics....
, footballer. - Oier OlazábalOier OlazábalOier Olazábal Paredes , is a Spanish footballer who plays for FC Barcelona B as a goalkeeper.-Football career:Olazábal arrived in FC Barcelona's youth academy at age 16, from local Real Unión...
, footballer. - Sergio FranciscoSergio FranciscoSergio Francisco Ramos, known as Sergio Francisco , is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Unión as a striker.-External links:** *...
, footballer. - Juan Manuel GárateJuan Manuel GárateJuan Manuel Gárate Cepa is a Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He currently rides for the Rabobank team. He is perceived to be a climbing specialist, and to date his greatest achievements have been in the Giro d'Italia, where he placed fourth overall in 2002, fifth overall in 2005 and won...
, cyclist. - KortatuKortatuKortatu was a ska punk band from the Basque Country formed in Irun in the summer of 1984.Kortatu was born in the context of the first democracy years in Spain since 1936. They had a big significance for left-wing basque nationalism as precursors of a new wave of music: Basque Radical Rock...
, punkrock band - Jose Antonio Santano, current mayor
- Menchu Gal, notable painter
- Oscar Del Santo, international blogger and author
- Arantza Kiroga, President of the Basque ParliamentBasque ParliamentThe Basque Parliament is the legislative body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain and the elected assembly to which the Basque Government is responsible....
- Lourdes Maldonado, TV presenter
- Edward Rosset, novelist