Presented by the Chairman of Correos and the Irish Ambassador

CORREOS ISSUES TWO STAMPS ON POPULAR DANCES JOINTLY WITH IRELAND

• The block sheet includes two stamps featuring images of the two most popular dances from each country, Flamenco and Irish Dance
• The stamps have a face value of €0.60 and €0.78 and a print run of 500,000 copies

Madrid, 7 November 2008. CORREOS Chairman Sixto Heredia Herrera and Irish Ambassador Peter Gunning have presented today at 1:00 pm, at the Correos Training Centre, Conde de Peñalver nº 19, two stamps in the Popular Dance series, which the Irish and Spanish postal services have issued jointly. The series is a block sheet format with two stamps that illustrate flamenco and Irish dance scenes, two of the most popular dances in each country.

This joint Spanish-Irish series reflects some of the main values associated with Philately: it is a vehicle for cultural integration and diffusion; it contributes to defining the idea of a United Europe, of which the two countries are a part; and the stamps reflect a reality: the universality of cultures, beyond countries and frontiers. The stamps reflect the expansion of art and culture and the similarities between the two dances present in Spanish and Irish cultures since times immemorial. In addition, they contribute to strengthening current ties and co-operation stemming from EU membership.

Prior to this one, CORREOS has issued 9 other joint stamp collections: 1986, Spain and Portugal joining the European Community (with Portugal); 2000, 500th Anniversary of the Birth of Charles V (with Germany); 2001, Christmas (with Germany); 2003, 150th Anniversary of the first stamps issued in Chile (with Chile); 2004, 150th Anniversary of the first stamps issued in the Philippines (with the Philippines); 2004, Urban Architecture (with China); 2005, Gardens (with Iran); 2006, Iberian Bridges (with Portugal). and 2007, Mediterranean Archaeology (with Greece).

Two ancestral dances

Flamenco, of uncertain origins, experienced a major surge and development in Andalusia from the 18th century onward. Flamenco dancing, vocals and music became so popular among villagers, and especially among gypsies, that it spread across the entire country and soon became a Spanish cultural reference around the world. The golden age of Flamenco was from 1869 and 1929.

Flamenco dance and vocals have evolved constantly, although the former is still based on heel and foot percussion, spinning and head and arm movements. Flamenco's roots evolved in courtyards, celebrations and pilgrimages. It then was performed at tablaos, taverns and cafés. It currently heads the bill at auditoriums, theatres and music venues.

The origins of Irish dance are also uncertain and ancestral. This dance is characterised by its fast steps and leg and body movements with the arms held still. In the first third of the last century, it was practised mainly at "house dances" and "crossroads" in rural areas and the outdoors. From the 1990s, more modern versions and innovations appeared.

Technical details

The block sheet put into circulation has a print run of 500,000 copies and the stamps it contains have a face value of €0.60 and €0.78, respectively. The stamps are printed in gravure, on chalk-coated, phosphorescent, gummed paper with a 13 ¼ perforation. The stamp format is 28.8 x 49.8 mm (vertical) and the block sheet format is 120 x 76 mm (horizontal).

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