Julia Iruretagoiena

Julia Iruretagoiena Selles (Irún, Spain, 1886 – Mexico City, Mexico, October 3, 1954) was a Spanish activist. She was the wife and widow of and became involved in his socialist activism, eventually experiencing exile.

Biography Born in Irún, Julia Iruretagoiena Selles was the daughter of the Republican mayor, León Iruretagoiena Camino. She married Tomás Meabe, a writer and founder of the Socialist Youth. After living in France and England and having a son, León Meabe, in 1912, they returned to Irún. They later moved to Madrid. On November 15, 1915, her husband died of tuberculosis. After becoming a widow (1915), Iruretagoiena began working at the (Senior Girls' Residence). There, among others, she met María de Maeztu, , and Victoria Kent.

Iruretagoiena was a member of the Lyceum Club Femenino, where she regularly shared a table in the tea room with Victorina Durán, Matilde Calvo Rodero, Trudi Cra, wife of Luis Araquistáin, and Isabel Espada.

She worked for the International Labour Organization Delegation during the Civil War.

In July 1939, Iruretagoiena arrived in Mexico on the SS Champlain. She collaborated in aiding exiles, working for the Women's Committee of the (JARE). She also dedicated herself to teaching languages and worked at the Espasa-Calpe publishing house. Iruretagoiena's concern focused on the children who had arrived in Morelia. On October 24, 1941, she was assigned to the private secretary of the president of the Mexican Delegation of the JARE. She never returned to Spain. Iruretagoiena died in Mexico City on October 3, 1954.