José Luís Gonçalves Carvalho honoured with Ordem do Mérito for preserving Portuguese folklore in Andorra

About sixty people filled the Aria Hall at the Centre de Congressos in Andorra for a ceremony in which José Luís Gonçalves Carvalho received the Ordem do Mérito of the Portuguese Republic. The decoration was presented by Portugal’s ambassador to Andorra, José Augusto Duarte, on behalf of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the event was presided over by Portugal’s consul general in Andorra, Duarte Pinto da Rocha.

Gonçalves Carvalho, artistic director and president of the folklore group Casa de Portugal, was honoured for more than 35 years of work promoting and preserving Portuguese folklore and culture in the Principality. In his remarks he thanked the Portuguese state and recalled his sustained civic and cultural commitment “both personally and through collective organisations,” singling out Casa de Portugal for its role in the community.

A native of Portugal who arrived in Andorra in 1990, Gonçalves Carvalho said he integrated into Andorran society through the Catalan language and participation in local events while maintaining ties to his Portuguese roots. He described his nomination as a councillor of the Portuguese Communities as a recognition of the whole community rather than an individual, and reflected on how the community has evolved into a living, changing collective: second- and third-generation Portuguese, some returning to Portugal at retirement, and many children now holding Andorran nationality.

Ambassador José Augusto Duarte praised Gonçalves Carvalho’s civic spirit, selfless dedication and long-standing service to the community, and noted the warm applause and enthusiasm of those present. During his remarks the ambassador also addressed a wider demographic trend, attributing some departures of Portuguese residents to Lisbon’s policy incentives aimed at encouraging return migration to strengthen Portugal’s economy and social fabric—a phenomenon he said affects all countries with Portuguese emigrants.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of Andorran institutions, including Culture Minister Mònica Bonell, Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor, the cònsol menor of Andorra la Vella Olalla Losada, and Pere Baró, alongside members of the Portuguese community and participants from the country’s cultural and associative network. The event closed with sustained applause and a toast with Port wine.