Mazirbe

Mazirbe (Irē or Piški Īra, Klein-Irben) is a village place in Kolka Parish, Talsi Municipality, Latvia 18 km southwest of Kolka. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast. Mazirbe is the cultural capital of the Livonians.

The flag of the Livonians has flown over the Livonian House of the People (Lībiešu tautas nams or Līvu tautas nams, Līvõd rovkuodā), a cultural centre dating from 1938, built in the heart of the village with the support of linguistic cousins in Hungary, Finland and Estonia. Inside is a small museum showing photos of past generations of Livonians. On the first Sunday of August there is a Livonian gathering here, culminating in a procession to the beach where a wreath is cast into the sea in remembrance of fishermen who have met watery deaths. A camp for young people where only Livonian is spoken is held for a week beforehand. The Mazirbe plague stone is a unique feature of the village.

The name of the village in both Livonian and Latvian translates to 'Small Irbe/Irā', as opposed to Lielirbe or 'Great Irbe/Irā'.