Stràngius Festival 2025: Beniamino Deidda and Ian McKinley Honoured
Two emblematic figures of civil and sporting resistance took centre stage in Serramanna during the 8th edition of the Stràngius International Literary Festival of Autobiography, organised by the Municipality of Serramanna in collaboration with the Associazione Città della Terra Cruda and under the patronage of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia.
On Friday, 12 September, during the day dedicated to the theme Resistentis, magistrate Beniamino Deidda was awarded the “Franco Putzolu: Witness of Sardinian Identity” Prize, presented by the Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Serramanna, Giovanni Maccioni.
Having entered the judiciary in 1963, Deidda belonged to the generation of so-called “pretori d’assalto” (activist magistrates) who, during the 1970s and 1980s, were at the forefront of defending workers’ rights enshrined in labour legislation. Throughout his career, he distinguished himself for his commitment to workplace safety and to the fight against occupational accidents and diseases, addressing emblematic cases such as that of Eluana Englaro. His judicial and civic action was guided by the teaching of Don Lorenzo Milani: “There is nothing more unjust than making equal parts among unequals.”
The award consists of an artwork created by artist Marina Putzolu, daughter of Franco Putzolu (1936–2011), the illustrator, draughtsman and cartoonist to whom the prize is dedicated.
On Saturday, 13 September, during the day entitled Resisting through Sport, the “Vico Mossa: Witness of Our Time” Prize was presented by the Mayor of Serramanna, Gabriele Littera, to Ian McKinley, former Irish rugby player naturalised as an Italian citizen.
A promising player for Leinster and the Ireland Under-20 national team, McKinley suffered a serious accident in 2010 that forced him into premature retirement. His story of sporting rebirth took shape in Italy, where in 2013—thanks to specially designed protective goggles—he was able to return to the field. He played for Udine, Viadana, Zebre and Benetton Treviso, before making his debut in 2017 with the Italian national team, scoring his first international points. His personal journey, recounted in the book Seconda chance. La mia rinascita nel rugby (Santelli), has become a symbol of perseverance, passion and resistance, demonstrating how sport can be a powerful force for life.
The two awards embody the very heart of Stràngius: celebrating those who, in different fields, have been able to confront adversity and transform personal experience into a shared testimony.
The festival, originally created to honour Vico Mossa—a native of Serramanna, architect, scholar and author of the autobiographical novel I cabilli—is today a cultural and civic project that brings moments of dialogue between literature, memory and commitment into the bixinaus antigusu, the ancient Campidanese adobe courtyards.
Among the guests of this edition: Maram al-Masri, Alberto Bocchetta, Mario Capanna, Luca Casarini, Michel Cassir, Francesco Casula, Beniamino Deidda, Monica Giorgi, Giulio Guarini, Felicia Vitale Impastato, Tommaso Juhasz, Teresa Manes, Serena Marchi, Vittorino Mason, Ian McKinley, Renato Franco Natale and Laura Orlandini.
Full biographies are available at www.strangiusfestival.it/autori-2025.
The 2025 edition took place in Serramanna in two phases—from 4 to 6 September and from 10 to 14 September—with a rich programme of presentations, literary readings and exhibitions. In November (10–14 November), Stràngius at School will take place, a section entirely dedicated to students.
Photos by Giulia Camba