Manuel Rodriguez Lopez

Manuel Oreste Rodríguez López (11 December 1934, in Paradela, Lugo, Spain – 13 February 1990 Lugo) was a Galician poet and writer.

Manuel Rodriguez Lopez was born in 1934 in a hamlet in the region of Paradela.

He studied Philosophy and Humanities at the Diocesan Seminary of Barcelona from 1946 to 1952.

He then studied accounting and labour legislation.

He worked as the head of the department of administrative staff in a motorcycle industry (OSSA).

He married Irene Lopez Gomez (O Páramo), and fathered two sons.

Highlights include the first awards for poetry ‘Meigas e Trasgos’ of Sarria in the years 1976 and 1980, the ‘Prize José M ª Chao Ledo’ in the III the Literary Contest of Vilalba, in 1977, and the first prize in the Literary Contest of Begonte in 1985.

In Sarria, two of his stories won the prize ‘Meigas e Trasgos’ in 1977 and 1986.

In Barakaldo he won a prize in 1978.

In prose, he won the first prize for ‘Nos’ (Barcelona) in 1980.

In 1985 and 1987 he was a finalist in the Features section in the Journalism Awards of Galicia.

Several songs were composed based on several of his poems by Suso Vaamonde, Xerardo Moscoso, Alfredo González Vilela and Mary C. Otero Rolle.

When he was six years old, he moved to Barcelona, and in 1987, he returned to Lugo.

He died from a stroke in Lugo in 1990.

Throughout his life he showed great concern for culture and Galicia during his long emigration in Catalonia, where he became the chronicler of all acts related to Galicia celebrated in Catalonia, as once established in Lugo.

Manuel Rodriguez Lopez was awarded in numerous literary contests.

In the year of his death (1990), he was posthumously named "Fillo Predilecto de Paradela" and "Lucense do ano 1989".

Manuel Rodriguez Lopez left a resounding legacy in the culture of Galicia, and in the émigré culture of Galician Emigrants throughout the world in his journalistic work, but mainly in his books "Galegos en Catalunya" I and II.

Another legacy that he has left is that of the Literary contest in his name, which helps to promote aspiring authors and poets writing in Galician or Castillian.

Manuel Rodriguez Lopez was a regular contributor to media in Galicia, Catalonia and Argentina.

He was correspondent of Faro de Vigo and El Ideal Gallego in Barcelona, where he signed with his full name (Manuel Oreste).

He collaborated regularly in El Progreso (Lugo), La Voz de Galicia and the local newspaper from Lugo Praza Maior (published by Lugo City Council).

He was Official Chronicler of the Galician Centre of Barcelona, publishing numerous articles in the magazines Boletin, Treboada and Alborada from that entity.

He collaborated with the newspaper Correo de Galicia and other newspapers and magazines in Buenos Aires and published several articles in the Galician magazines Coordenadas and Dorna.

He also worked on Radio Nacional de España in A Coruña, and on Radio Popular de Lugo, focusing his contributions on issues of Lugo's history, monuments and travel.

In 1990, the first Centro Socio-cultural centre was unveiled in Paradela, then to be relocated to what is now the centre in 2001.

The Socio-Cultural Centre currently houses a library, computer facilities and a usable hall, which the community is free to use.

The Literary contest named after him has been held there yearly since 1995.

This contest is run by Paradela Town Council and reached the 17th Edition in 2012.