The room used by the Coral Polifónica Santa Comba de Cordeiro will be renamed “Sala Manuel López Castro – ‘Manolo de Pedro’”, in honor of its founder and director for 32 years, who passed away on June 22nd. López Castro, born in Barcia in 1944, was a key figure in the cultural and social life of Valga, an initiator of heritage initiatives, and possessed a musical education that led him to study in Rome and become part of the Cathedral Choir of Santiago.
The choral group, founded in 1994, toured Galicia, Asturias, and Portugal, performing in Fátima and appearing on TVG and at the Pazo de Fonseca. His religious role also involved collaboration with the parishes of Valga and the preservation of local traditions. The recognition proposal was approved with the abstention of the PSOE.
The Auditorium's exhibition room will be named “José Manuel Vicente Potel – ‘Pepe Potel’”. Potel (Laxes, 1957-2018) was committed to culture, especially painting. After being self-taught and later studying, he founded the Adeval painting school to bring art to the residents. His works, focusing on tradition, superstitions, and nature, showed an evolution towards a wide range of colors and techniques.
His exhibitions toured Galicia and several Spanish and foreign cities. The creation of the exhibition room in the Auditorium, in collaboration with the Town Council, was a step to provide a space for artists. The recognition of the Valga painter was approved unanimously.
Furthermore, the Plenary Session approved, with the abstention of the PSOE, to request the Royal Galician Academy (RAG) to dedicate the Day of Galician Literature to Padre Isorna. The mayor reported on the contacts made with the family of Xosé Manuel Isorna Ferreirós, the president of the RAG, and other entities, as well as the support from local associations.
Padre Isorna, born in Barcia (Cordeiro), was a professor at the Franciscan seminary of Herbón, vice-rector of the Convent of San Francisco de Santiago, and representative of Radio Vaticana in Galicia. He was a corresponding member of the RAG since 1967 and a pioneer in the use of Galician in liturgy, officiating masses on TVG. In 1997, he received the title of Favorite Son of Valga and in 2009 donated his private library to the Town Council, which led to the establishment of Galicia's first public theology library in 2011.
