Activities
Culture
Among the objectives of the entity are the dissemination of the Galician language, culture and traditions through different activities throughout these more than 50 years.
Courses, exhibitions, concerts, conferences... are some of the different proposals that we make from our entity.
Our library specialises in Galician subjects: literature, history, geography, traditions, music, guides to Galicia and the Way of St. James, among others. Access is free during the opening hours of the centre.
We also disseminate art and audio-visuals through cycles such as Mestre Mateo, in 2022, or Galicia é cine, in 2023, which gives us the opportunity to watch documentaries and films in their original version with English subtitles.
Music and Dance
The dance and bagpipe group was founded in 1972 and its performances were limited to parties organised by the school. It was at the end of the 1970s that the group began to perform outside London. In the 1980s, it disbanded and in 1988 they made their debut, with great success, at the Battersea Park Carnival.
In the 1990s, several dance and costume making courses were held, which brought about a
radical change and enormous motivation. At the end of this decade, the Dance and Bagpipes
Committee was formed with the intention of making the group more autonomous and since
then there have been peaks and troughs.
Currently, bagpipes and tambourine are taught by David Carril who, over the years, has collaborated as a guest in concerts by Luar na Lubre, Carlos Núñez or Uxía in their concerts in England.
Likewise, the aim is to recover the dance group of the centre, which once had several generations of dancers.
Events and Exhibitions
Throughout the year, we organise activities related to our traditional festivals (magosto, nadal, entroido, maios, san Juan, Día da Patria Galega) in which tradition and gastronomy usually go hand in hand. We also organise gastronomic events with foliadas, queimadas or live music.
However, as soon as the multi-purpose hall is inaugurated, we hope to be able to offer exhibitions, conferences, concerts and leisure activities for all ages.
We also want to continue promoting the Camino de Santiago and Galicia in general, as well as
being able to offer a space where young Galicians living in London can show their creativity.
Galicia Day in London
"Only the memory of where I come from helps me to know where I am going", said Rosalía de Castro.
This recreational and fraternal activity has been celebrated for almost 50 years, bringing together a considerable part of the numerous Galician and Spanish colonies living in the City of Thames, and takes place at the Cañada Blanch Spanish Institute, in the Westminster area, an educational centre of recognised excellence, and an enclave of special symbolism for the diaspora.
Without a doubt, the footprints of the Galicians in London are well known, as well as their capacity to respect and absorb new and important cultures such as the British one. As a result, this celebration, which takes place on the last weekend in June, brings together Galicians and their supporters in a festive and fun event that includes music, dance, traditions and food from our land.
FC Deportivo Galicia
During the 1960's it was West London where most of the Galician immigrants settled and it was in 1968 when a small group of these migrants saw an opportunity, through football, to help each other and share in some way the longing they felt.
The club was originally formed under the name "Centro Galego de Londres" however, a few years later it joined forces with another Spanish team called "Deportivo" (a club that was formed in honour and in memory of FC Deportivo in a foreign country) and thus the creation of "FC Deportivo Galicia de Londres" was born.
The club is recognised, not only in Spain but in Europe, for being deservedly rated as one of the best Spanish amateur teams in a foreign country. The club has shown strength and belief, while demonstrating why others should fear them by winning international trophies in Germany, France and Belgium.
Golf Club
The Spanish Golf Club was founded in 1999 with the aim of bringing passion and fun to golf to the large Spanish community in London. Over the years, the society has a diverse mix of nationalities, all with the common goal of enjoying a competitive round of golf, once a month with friends, on some of the best courses available to societies in London.