CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1, MAY 2019 ISSUE 2, NOVEMBER 2013 The CAI Presidential Address 2018: Tom Seaver ‘A Century of Classics in Ireland (19082018)’ 2-3
Notice Youth
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From the Editor Dear CAI members, Most of you will be aware of the sad news that our Dublin Branch President and dear friend Brian O’Connell passed away in January. I first met Brian on the CAI tour of Turkey in 2010. He was wonderful company, erudite and enthusiastic, with an unmatched skill when bargaining for carpets! Our Council meetings will be infinitely poorer without his gentle presence and considered input, and he will be truly missed. Vale.
Some important notices are included with this mailing. In future, the primary delivery method for this Newsletter will be electronic. CAI Members will receive e-mail notification when a new bulletin is available to view online. Should you wish to continue to receive a paper copy of the Newsletter via the post, please return the enclosed form to the Membership Secretary. The brochure and enrolment form for the annual CAI summer conference is also enclosed. We look forward to meeting you all in Sligo! Selga Medenieks
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
May 2019
The CAI Presidential Address 2018 Tom Seaver: A Century of Classics in Ireland (1908-2018)
The annual CAI Presidential Address took place at UCD on Friday, 30 November, 2018. The CAI Chair, Dr Catherine Ware, welcomed the President, Mr Tom Seaver, and praised his lifelong commitment to Classics and his achievements in promoting Latin and Greek in Ireland. Mr Seaver studied Classics at UCC and, after gaining a teaching diploma, became the assistant master of Classics at Glenstal Abbey. He joined the newly-formed Association of Classical Teachers shortly after it was formed in 1959 and held various offices as a committee member. In 1969 he moved to Gormanston College, teaching Latin, Greek and Classical Studies, but remained involved in the ACT. He was active in setting up the Dublin branch in 1970, serving as president in 19761977, and in the mid-seventies became editor of the Association Handbook until 1992. When the ACT joined the Classical Association of Ireland in 1993, Mr Seaver acted as treasurer and later secretary. He moved to Limerick in 1994 and was involved in founding the Limerick Branch of the CAI the following year; he has acted as secretary since then. There could be few people more competent to speak on the history of Classics
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and particularly the different associations of classicists in Ireland. Mr Seaver addressed the members on ‘A Century of Classics in Ireland (1908-2018)’. This was a fascinating paper which began with the first meeting of the Classical Association of Ireland, which occurred in 1907 in Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, with seventeen members present. Drawing on archival material, including the society’s Minute Book, letters, accounts and photographs, Mr Seaver took the audience through the personalities involved, and the relationships between universities, schools and the CAI. His talk traced the inevitable decline of the importance of the classical languages to a professional career, although this was balanced to some extent by introduction of Classical Studies as an examination subject. Throughout the decades, the expansion and ongoing endeavours of the CAI attested and aided the continuing popularity of Classics in Ireland. The Address was very well received – members were particularly delighted to see old photos of themselves! – and Mr Brian Farley responded to the paper. Medals for the highest marks in classical subjects in the Junior and Leaving Certificate exams were then presented.
May 2019 The oldest CAI award, the Jack Henderson Medal dating from 1994, is awarded to the student having the best overall mark in any one of the classical subjects (Latin, Greek, or Classical Studies) at Junior Certificate. The Centennial Medal, first awarded in 2008 and named in commemoration of the centenary of the Association, is awarded to the student who achieves the best overall mark in any one of the classical subjects at Leaving Certificate. The ‘President’s Awards’ medals were instituted in 2017 for students who are awarded the highest marks in the remaining classical subjects in Junior and Leaving Certificate. The 2018 Jack Henderson Medal was awarded to Alexey Gorelov of Stratford College (Ms Patricia Gordon, School Principal), whose teacher was Ms Delia Donohoe. Alexey attained the overall highest mark of Junior Certificate Classical subjects for Classical Studies. The 2018 Centennial Medal was awarded to Michael McNulty of Gonzaga College, Dublin (Mr Damon McCaul, School Principal), whose teacher was Ms Aryn Penn. Michael attained the overall highest mark of Leaving Certificate Classical subjects for Latin. Michael McNulty was also awarded a President’s Medal for attaining the highest place in Ancient Greek. His teacher was Mr Daniel O’Connor. A President’s Medal was awarded to Mark Fahy, Gonzaga College (Mr Damon McCaul, School Principal), whose teacher was Ms Aryn Penn. Mark attained the highest mark in the Junior Certificate in Ancient Greek. President’s Medals for the highest mark in the Leaving Certificate in Classical Studies were awarded jointly to: Ailbhe Herity of St Andrew’s College (Ms Joan Kirby, School Principal), whose teacher was Ms Gina Mockler; and Sionna Hurley-O’Kelly of Holy Faith Secondary School (Ms Deirdre Gogarty, School Principal), whose teacher was Mr Ian Maguire. President’s Medals for the highest mark in the Junior Certificate in Latin were awarded jointly to: Matthew Gibney of Blackrock College (Mr Alan McGinty, School Principal), whose teacher was Ms Sara Henchy; and Louis Killalea of Belvedere College (Mr Gerry Foley, School Principal), whose teacher was Mr Paul Bermingham.
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
Alexey Gorelov, recipient of the 2018 Jack Henderson Medal, with Mr Seaver and his teacher Ms Delia Donohoe (Stratford College).
The 2018 Centennial Medal, as well as a President’s Medal for the highest mark in Ancient Greek, was presented by Mr Seaver to Michael McNulty (Gonzaga College). Michael received the Jack Henderson Medal in 2015. The meeting concluded with a very enjoyable reception in the Staff Common Room. Our congratulations are due to the students, teachers and parents for their achievements and whose presence helped to make the evening such a success. Congratulations also to the organisers of the event whose hard work ensured that everything went smoothly on the night. Gratias maximas agimus! Catherine Ware 3
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Classical Association of Ireland will take place at St Angela’s College, Sligo, on Friday, 16 August 2019, at 7.00 p.m. The Secretary notifies members that nominations and motions will be received under the following provisions of the Association’s Rules. Article 12 – Nominations for CAI Council The officers and ordinary members of the Council are elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Council has made nominations under this Article as follows: Chair: Catherine Ware Vice-Chair: Helen McVeigh Secretary: Patrick J. Ryan Treasurer: Alexander Thein Members by Election: 1. Geraldine FitzGerald 2. Cosetta Cadau 3. Joan Wright 4. Amber Taylor
Classical Youth Society of Ireland: Conversing the Classics II After nearly a year of post-production work, the Classical Youth Society Ireland (CYSI) is delighted to announce the launch of Conversing the Classics series II. The series was recorded over a two-week period with academics in various universities around the UK, starting in Cambridge and ending in Manchester. The aim of the second series follows on from the first: to bring academic research on the ancient world to a wider audience by presenting it through an accessible medium. As always, the topics of discussion were wide-ranging, from the poetry of Martial to the life and works of Procopius. The series was funded and supported by Classical Association of Ireland. Special thanks ought to be extended to Michael Fuller, who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes editing each episode; Dr Alexander Thein (UCD), who encouraged me to seek funding for a second series; and the respective academics who gave time to discuss their research. 4
May 2019 Further nominations may be made by any Branch and should be sent to me, by post or email, before Friday, 2 August 2019. Every such nomination shall state the names of the persons nominated and shall be signed by their proposers and seconders and certified by the Branch Chairperson or Acting Chairperson. Article 14 – Special Motions Any member wishing to propose a Motion (including a proposal for amendment of the Constitution) at the Annual General Meeting should send a signed copy to me before 2 August 2019. Please note that Motions may be submitted by individual members, rather than by Branches. Patrick J. Ryan, Secretary Contacts by Post: The Orchard Yard, Newport, Co. Tipperary by E-mail: p.strepsiades@gmail.com
The new episodes will be released periodically over the coming months on CYSI’s YouTube channel; meanwhile, recording for the third series has already begun!
Oscar P. McHale
Prof. Paul Cartledge with Oscar McHale
CLICK TO LISTEN: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8W SPJ0uPrqVNp16xDK-sUg
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
May 2019
Kumonosu-jo Following the success of our Summer reading, Terence’s Heautontimoroumenos, the Orchard Yard Players decided on something from an entirely different genre for Autumn 2018. Our International Day took us far afield for a reading of the screenplay of Kumonosu-jo (‘The Castle of the Spider’s Web’). This epic story of treachery and betrayal is a close adaptation of Macbeth, transferred from eleventh-century Scotland to sixteenth-century Japan, and memorably filmed by the famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa under the title Throne of Blood (1957) with Toshiro Mifune in the lead role (see list of equivalences with the Shakespearean characters, at right). After securing a major victory on the battlefield, Taketoti Washizu and one of his commanders, Yoshiaki Miki, find themselves lost in the maze-like Spider’s Web forest. They come across a spirit-like seer who tells them of their future: both have been promoted because of their victory that day; Washizu will someday be the Great Lord of the Spider’s Web castle while Miki’s son will someday rule as Great Lord as well. When they arrive at the castle, they learn that the first part of the prophecy is correct. Washizu has no desire to become Great Lord but his ambitious wife urges him to reconsider. When the current Great Lord makes a surprise visit to his garrison outpost, Washizu is again promoted to commander of his vanguard but his wife reminds him of the danger that comes with the position. As pressure mounts, Washizu takes action leading to a terrible conclusion. It was important to remember throughout that this was a screenplay, not a stage-play. A narrator (Jennifer O’Donoghue), therefore told
Kurosawa
Shakespeare
Taketoki Washizu Asaji Washizu Kuniharu Tsuzuki Kunimaru Tsuzuki Noriyasu Odagura Yoshiaki Miki Yoshiteru Miki Old Woman (Spirit of the Forest)
Macbeth Lady Macbeth King Duncan Malcolm Macduff Banquo Fleance The Witches
Soldiers, Generals, Messengers, Phantoms those parts of the story within the camera shots, which are clear to viewers but not in a voiceonly reading. Sound effects, from both the Noh and Kabuki strands of Japanese theatre, were provided by Orla Coffey. Patrick J. Ryan
Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens (IIHSA) Day School, 23 February 2019: Animals and Us: Human-Animal Relationships in the Ancient World The annual Day Schools of the Irish Institute are outreach events for anyone interested in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. This year’s theme was an invitation to reflect on the myriad and complex relationships between animals and us (human-animals). The papers were therefore wide-ranging, taking in ancient philosophical thoughts about animals, hunting in the Greek world, and examining closely particular animals such as elephants, weasels, bulls, and centaurs. Speakers were Gordon Campbell (Maynooth); Jessica Doyle (UCD); Ashley Clements (TCD); Simone Zimmerman (TCD); Kathryn Murphy (TCD); Hazel Dodge (TCD); and Christine Morris (TCD). The event was hosted by TCD Classics at the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute, followed by a reception kindly offered by Jason O’Brien and Odaios Foods. CEM 5
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
May 2019
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND The Classical Association in Northern Ireland has had a busy start to 2019. The Belfast Summer School continues to expand and, thanks to student demand, on 2 February a number of students met to refresh their knowledge of Greek and Latin. The weather was bright and sunny as we met in the Peter Froggatt Centre to consolidate, revise and learn new Latin and Greek grammar, and read texts in the original language. Latin students read some Catullus and Ovid, while Greek students read Xenophon, Lysias and Aristophanes. Next on the CANI agenda was a visit to Dalriada School in Co. Antrim as part of the CANI 4 Schools programme. Classical Civilisation AS and A2 students welcomed Dr John Curran and Dr Peter Crawford to their school on 21 February for a series of lectures which had been tailored to the school curriculum. Dr Crawford and Dr Curran (pictured below) spoke about such topics as ‘The End of the Roman Republic’; ‘The Rome of Augustus and Virgil’, and posed the question “what was the Aeneid for?” The day concluded with a mock trial of Gaius Julius Caesar, calling ancient witnesses such as Sulla, Cato, Cicero, Brutus, and Augustus.
On 7 March, for our first lecture of 2019, we welcomed Dr Des O’Rawe, senior lecturer in Film Studies at Queen’s University Belfast, to take us through the various screen adaptations of the Antigone myth. Dr O’Rawe focussed on three twentieth-century directors, the first of whom, George Tzavellas, created his 1961 film Antigone in Greece during a period of political scandals. In 1970 Liliana Cavani cast Britt Ekland as Antigone in I Cannibali (The Cannibals) and the film was set in Milan. More recently, Straub and Huillet’s 1992 interpretation of Antigone reflected on loyalty 6
and desertion in the Reich. Through visual extracts, Dr O’Rawe demonstrated a variety of cinematic techniques to the audience. We thank Dr O’Rawe for showing how essential film is in protecting and preserving ancient myth. In a digression from the programme, Armagh Robinson Library invited the Chair and Treasurer to launch its new temporary exhibition of 18th century manuscripts on March 12. These particular manuscripts featured the fables of Aesop and many were written in Latin. Helen McVeigh and Dr John Curran were glad to be of help and spent an enjoyable afternoon learning about the library and examining the many interesting books and manuscripts housed therein (below).
CANI’s annual schools’ conference took place on 14 March. Continuing our partnership with the Ulster Museum, a series of lectures were held in its lecture theatre, while our friends from Legion Ireland set up camp in the Welcome Area. The conference began with a talk by Dr Greer Ramsey, Curator of Archaeology at the Ulster Museum. Dr Ramsey, who was instrumental in bringing the Hoards exhibition to Belfast and which was on display at the time of the conference, began by explaining that the definition of a hoard is “two or more objects buried but never recovered”. He drew attention to Roman coins found at Newgrange, Roman rings discovered at Murlough Bay in Co. Down, and the 1500 coins and 6kg of silver in the Coleraine hoard. These finds may not necessarily be the proceeds of raiding and, as such, invite questions about the history of Romano-Irish relations.
May 2019 Our second talk was entitled ‘Strange Discoveries in Archaeology’ by CANI’s Dr Katerina Kolotourou. Dr Kolotourou discussed the grave of the Griffin Warrior found near the site of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos. This warrior was buried with over 3000 precious objects, including many small, carved seals. These were etched with images of combat, deities, lions, and men jumping bulls. Discussion turned to how, without modern technology to aid magnification, the craftsmen were able to carve intricate images on these tiny seals. One such seal is known as the Pylos Combat Agate. The seal is 3.4cm in length and, when restored, was found to be engraved with a triangular image of one warrior attacking another, while a third lies on the ground. The final lecture was delivered by our special guest, Michael Scott, Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick. In association with the BBC, Prof. Scott has made a number of documentaries on various aspects of the ancient world, most recently Sicily: the Wonder of the Mediterranean and Ancient Invisible Cities. Prof. Scott’s talk was entitled ‘Understanding the Oracle at Delphi’. He began by commenting that the site of the oracle is found in a rather inaccessible location but this might explain the various myths recording the oracle’s foundation, which featured Apollo, Zeus, eagles, goats, and dragons. The popular story that hallucinogenic gases emerge from the ground where the temple was built has been challenged by modern archaeological studies but surveys in the 1990s have proven that the Temple of Apollo was indeed built upon a fault causing the release of gases, including hallucinationinducing ethylene.
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
We are grateful to the soldiers of Legion Ireland for journeying to the north and being such a popular part of the conference. A favourite story from the day is when CANI’s Peter and Martin from Legion Ireland (in full Roman armour) walked into the Hoards exhibition while Greer Ramsey was giving a talk to another group. Martin proclaimed that he was there “to take his money back!” Thanks to everyone who helped make the conference a great day. To keep in touch with CANI, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or be added to the mailing list by dropping a quick email to classicalassociationni@hotmail.com. Helen McVeigh
CLICK TO WATCH a replay of Michael Scott, Helen McVeigh and Raoul McLaughlin’s Live Q&A session!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c ontinue=17&v=G0nqjxiYNqA
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CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
May 2019
CAI BRANCH & UNIVERSITY NEWS CAI CORK The spring programme began for the Cork Branch on February 4 with Dr Meredith Cutrer from the Dept of History at UCD. Dr Cutrer spoke on ‘From Secular to Sacred: The transformation of the Peregrinus from Augustus to Augustine’. The talk centred on why the clergy adopted the term peregrinus, which means perpetual foreigner, and how Augustine and the Irish peregrini after him understood their role. The term showed no respect of class or religion and in 212AD Caracalla’s Edict granted to all those in the Roman world the citizenship of the Romans. In the Epistle to Diognetus the term peregrinus is used over eight hundred times and in St Augustine of Hippo’s The City of God the term has over a thousand mentions. Patrick, Columba, Columbanus, and Brendan were all peregrini and, indeed, St Augustine says all Christians are peregrini. March 4 saw us welcome Dr Christopher Farrell from the Dept of Classics, UCD. Dr Farrell spoke on ‘Democracy and Athenian Imperialism’. This talk traced Athenian democracy from Archaic times through two invasions by Darius and the Persians. We were made familiar with the workings of the Greek state, the Boule, the writings of Xenophon and Thucydides, and tyranny under Peisistratos. Archaeological and numismatic sources were also looked at for references. April 1 was a rather inauspicious day but not if you count it as Otto Von Bismarck’s birthday or the day the Presidential Address came to the banks of the Lee! It saw the Cork Branch welcome old friends in the guise of the President of the Classical Association, Tom Seaver and his wife, Mary. It is always nice when the presidential address is made available to the Branches, considering that not everyone has the ability to travel to the ‘main event’ in Dublin on a November night. 8
The title of the talk was ‘A Century of Classics in Ireland, 1908-2018’. Tom is well-placed to speak on such a topic having been associated with the CAI for a long, long time in a variety of roles. Classics have been an integral part of the Irish education system for a really long time. We should be grateful to those Hedge School teachers for whom Latin and Greek were a staple and to the monks before them for preserving the literature of the time. The Intermediate Education Act of 1878 introduced a curriculum for Latin and Greek. A slew of interesting details were raised in this talk. In 1907 Henry Browne first mooted the notion of setting up a classical association of Ireland, as one already existed in England. The first meeting was held in Earlsfort Terrace and seventeen people were present; the membership fee was a mere five shillings. It seemed a hiatus occurred and in 1958 a revitalisation of the CAI and classics teachers occurred. Today the association is not just limited to teachers, neither Latin nor Greek are needed for entry to university, and both subjects are in great decline in Irish schools. However, though the Classical Association of Ireland and all who sail and steer her ship, the legacy started by those monks of old and hedge school masters, not forgetting Henry Browne and John Thompson, still bravely continues. Perhaps in 2108 a new president will speak on the bicentenary of the association and there will be something still to talk about! May 13 will see us welcome members’ papers. The account will be too late for the deadline of the newsletter, but the two speakers for the night will be Nora Comerford (Hedge Schools in Ireland and their links to the Classics) and Jennifer O’Donoghue (Trajan and his legacy). The Branch would like to take this opportunity to thank the Dept of Classics at UCC, Dr David Woods, and Dr Catherine Ware for their unfailing support, financial and academic, throughout the year. Their help makes the Branch so much easier to run.
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
May 2019 On a final note and a sad one, the Cork Branch would like to express its sympathy with the family of the late Brian O’Connell. Brian, a Dublin Branch member, was a stalwart of the CAI. His unfailing optimism, positivity and support will be sadly missed at the summer schools, Branch and council meetings. J. O’Donoghue
CAI LIMERICK After the busy programme of lectures during the Autumn Term of 2018, we took things easier in the Spring Term following, with three lectures all given by our own Branch members. On 27 February Ms Paula Keane gave ‘An Introduction to Greek Pottery as in the Ashmolean Museum’. Mr Tom Seaver followed on 13 March with a repeat of his Presidential Address, ‘A Century of Classics in Ireland (1908-2018)’. On 10 April Patrick Ryan spoke on the theme ‘With the Gods on our side: Ritual and Hoplite Warfare’. Lastly, on 15 May Dr Martin Pulbrook, formerly of the Classics Department in Maynooth University, on his first visit to the Branch, delivered a lecture on ‘Feminism in Ovid’s Heroides’. The final event of the programme is the Annual Branch Dinner, which will take place in the Unicorn Restaurant, Dooradoyle, on Thursday, 23 May, at 7.30pm, dining at 8.00pm. Greek classes resumed on Monday, 29 April, under the tutelage of Patrick Ryan, who may be contacted at p.strepsiades@gmail.com. Tom Seaver (Branch Hon. Sec.)
MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY Cum vere rubente/candida venit avis (Virgil, Georgics 2.319-320), as the poet says, yet the white bird of spring does not yet seem to have landed in chilly Maynooth. In the meantime we have enjoyed warming food for thought from several speakers in our seminar series. We welcomed our newest member of staff, Dr Jonathon Davies, to Maynooth this academic year. Jon has had a busy year and it has flown by. He ‘leaned in’ to present a seminar on 26 April, ‘A haunt of jackals: Rome as Babylon in Josephus’ Jewish War’. Jon wove a seamless
garment in his talk about the works of the firstcentury historian Josephus, his derring-do in the wars between his native Judaea and Rome in the first century. Treading a difficult path culturally and diplomatically, Josephus (later Flavius Josephus, the change of name signifying his strategic change of loyalty to Rome), wrote about the war in ways both his native and adopted audiences could interpret with satisfaction. Rhapsody informed our opening talk also when Professor Armand D’Angour (University of Oxford) presented ‘The Rediscovery of Ancient Greek Music’ on 22 February. The link below should lead you to the first choral performance with reconstructed aulos of reconstructed ancient scores of Athenaeus’ Paean (127 BC) and Euripides’ Orestes chorus (408 BC), with the evidence presented and explained by Professor D’Angour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hOK7bU 0S1Y Some of the research background is explained here: https://theconversation.com/ancient-greekmusic-now-we-finally-know-what-it-soundedlike-99895. This special event in our calendar was jointly hosted by the Maynooth University Departments of Ancient Classics and Music, in conjunction with the Maynooth University Arts and Humanities Institute. We are pleased to record our thanks to our colleagues in the Music Department and the MU Arts and Humanities Institute. Professor David Scourfield (Maynooth University) regaled us with ‘From The Ides of March to Augustus: Literary Form, Historical “Reality”, and Philosophical Exploration in Two Novels of Ancient Rome’ on 8 March, and we were delighted also to welcome former TCD graduate Dr Myles Lavan (University of St Andrews) on 29 March, who addressed us on ‘Who are the “Romans” in the Imperial Period? Romani and Rhomaioi in the First and Second Centuries’. We thank all our speakers from home and abroad and look forward to another productive year next year. Anois teacht an earraigh… Dr Maeve O’Brien
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK On 15 November 2018, Mr Giulio di Basilio (UCD) gave a talk on ‘Socrates on Euthychia, or Whether We Need Luck in Life’ at 7.30pm. It was a very interesting paper which led to prolonged audience discussion: everyone seemed to have a view on what exactly luck was and how much we need it. On 22 November, at the Granary Theatre, William Mann presented a one-man show of Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, featuring his own translation of the play. This thought-provoking and well-received performance concluded with a question-and-answer session which, among other things, offered valuable insights into the difficulties of working with stage blood. William returned to Cork on 16 January 2019, to give a talk entitled ‘Do you have to know Greek to translate Greek tragedy?’ Not all the audience were convinced of his approach but it made for a very lively discussion indeed, with considerable audience participation. On 29 January Professor Clare Rowan (University of Warwick) spoke on ‘Token Images of the Julio-Claudians’. At a very wellattended lecture, Professor Rowan introduced the audience to the widespread use of tokens in the ancient world, discussing what characterised them, what they show about society, and their value as an alternative currency. Dr Donncha O’Rourke of Edinburgh University spoke on ‘Flood and Cataclysm in Roman Epic’ on 14 March. This excellent and wide-ranging paper traced the theme of cosmic destruction by fire or flood in Lucretius, Virgil, Horace, Seneca, and Lucan. On 25 March Dr Martine Cuypers (TCD) spoke on ‘Crocodile Tears: a “Lament of Helen” from Petosiris’ Recycle Bin and the Hellenistic Reception of Euripides’. In a well-argued paper, Dr Cuypers suggested various models for and ways of rereading the ‘Lament of Helen’, a poem found on a fragment of papyrus. Although Dr Cuypers almost managed to derail her own talk by describing how the papyrus had come from a mummified crocodile (and that as a result an enormous number of crocodile mummies were destroyed by hopeful scholars), this paper gave a fascinating insight into the vibrant literary culture of Hellenistic Egypt. 10
May 2019 Spoken Latin at UCC continues to thrive and an interested group meets weekly for Latin conversation. Postgraduate students are already taking spoken Latin for credit and, for the first time, it will appear on the undergraduate curriculum in September 2019. The third Schola Latina (a week of immersive Latin) will take place from 5-11 June this summer. Please see https://www.ucc.ie/en/cnls/scholalatina/. Catherine Ware
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN Trinity’s Classics department was delighted to host many exciting lectures and events in the past months. The Classics Research Seminar, convened by Shane Wallace, included talks by Eleri Cousins (St Andrews) on Romano-British art, Raphaëla Dubrueil (TCD) on Sparta and theatre in Plutarch, Nikolaos Papazarkadas (Berkeley) on the refoundation of Thebes, and Nicoletta Momigliano (Bristol) on the Minoans. The department also hosted five sessions of the CAI Greek Reading Circle, convened by the indefatigable Liam Bairéad. Karen Radner (Munich) delivered the auditorial of our Archaeological Society; and Bridget Martin (UCD) addressed the Classical Association. Further noteworthy events included the Irish Hellenic Society 2019 symposium on Byzantium (with a lecture on Constantine by Rebecca Usherwood), the oneman Oresteia performed by Trinity graduate William Mann, a workshop around the correspondence of 16th-century Classicist Isaac Casaubon, and several activities associated with the Living Latin Project run by Anna Chahoud and Charlie Kerrigan. Martine Cuypers
CAI Languages Summer School 2019 The ancient Greek and Latin Summer School organised by the Classical Association of Ireland takes place at Trinity College Dublin from 4-14 June. Fees: €400 (€200 for OAPs and full-time students). For further information, please contact Dr Cosetta Cadau: cadauc@tcd.ie
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
May 2019
Obituary: Brian O’Connell (1936-2019) Brian was born in Dublin on 7 July 1936. He was educated at Belvedere, Clongowes, and UCD, where he graduated in History. He taught in Drogheda Grammar School, Kilnacrott Abbey in Cavan, and finally in Belvedere where from 1969 until retirement he taught history and geography. It was in Belvedere that his passion for rugby gave expression to that open-hearted generosity of spirit which characterised all his activities, when he chose to coach and foster for many years the lowest-rated team in the school. Brian’s serious interest in the Classical world begin with an Open University course in Classics which he took up after his retirement. He served as Chair of the Dublin Branch of the Classical Association for several years. His introduction of speakers and votes of thanks were always memorable and bore witness to his enthusiastic intellectual curiosity. Readers of the Newsletter will recall his articles on postage stamps with Classical themes – Brian was also a dedicated and well-respected, prize-winning philatelist. During his time as Chair of the Dublin Branch Brian began to organise discovery outings to the counties of Ireland, which then became a regular annual feature of the Branch spring programme. A feature of these outings was the carefully-researched choice of stopping places for ‘coffee and scones’ and hearty lunches, informative handouts, and entry into monuments which were often closed to the general public. Some of the highlights included Clonmacnoise, Wicklow Jail, Coolattin House, Lutyens’ Heywood Gardens, Trim Castle, the New Ross emigrant ship, and Tintern Abbey. He was a devoted participant in the CAI’s biennial Classical tours, including those to Syria, Jordan, Spain, Libya, and Turkey. His mischievous sense of humour was always in evidence, none more so than when visiting the Roman theatre in Leptis Magna (2008), where he gave a spirited rendering of a Mussolini anthem before an audience which included our Libyan security guards, or when supplying the missing head and arm to a mass-produced senatorial statue in Basra (Syria, 2000). Despite the often daunting roughness of the terrain Brian always managed to reach the
inaccessible and intriguing parts of the sites we visited, as when we all struggled up to the mountain-top theatre of Termessos (Turkey, 2012). In recognition of his determination, two athletic students from New Zealand lifted him up over the rear supporting wall of the theatre to reveal to him the commanding view over the countryside below. Brian regarded life as an exciting journey, no better expressed than in one of his favourite poems, Ithaka by the Greek poet Cavafy, which concludes: Keep Ithaka always in your mind. Arriving there is what you’re destined for. But do not hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, so you are old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you have gained on the way, not expecting Ithaka to make you rich. Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey. Without her you would not have set out. She has nothing left to give you now. And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you. Wise as you will have become, so full of experience, 11
CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
May 2019 you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean. Brian was a wonderful conversationalist and raconteur, full of stimulating political and historical insights, always encouraging and deeply appreciative of ancient art, philosophy, literature and history. His endearing personality inspired love and affection in everyone who was privileged to enjoy his company. Andrew Smith and Joan Wright Brian and his late wife Suzanne are survived by two children, Aisling and Etienne (Brian), and four grandchildren. To them and to their families we all in the Classical Association of Ireland extend our deepest sympathies.
(Photos of Brian courtesy of Joan Wright)
Dublin Branch annual spring outing: Cashel 2019 Leaving UCD on a bright May morning our band of merry travellers embarked on the journey south. This year we visited the amazing Rock of Cashel and Cormac’s Chapel, an interesting group of buildings located in one of the most scenic areas of Ireland. The tour was planned many months ago by our dear friend in Classics, the late Brian O’Connell; there is no doubt that he accompanied us in spirit. We were so pleased that Brian’s daughter Aisling and her husband David accompanied us on this special outing, which was dedicated to his memory. The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster. Cormac’s Chapel was commissioned in 1127 AD by Cormac McCarthy, King of South Munster. Mentioned in the Annals of Inisfallen, it is a building of great historical and architectural interest. This sandstone chapel is heavily decorated with carvings and in the past featured extensive frescoes of which only fragments have survived the ravages of damp weather conditions. A well-preserved Round Tower, 28 metres tall, is also located at the site. We were joined for lunch at the Horse and Jockey Hotel by friends of the O’Connell family, archaeologists Jean and Barry O’Reilly. 12
A delicious meal was enjoyed as we wished them both a very happy wedding anniversary. Jean and Barry then led the group on a walking tour of Cashel, visiting St John’s parish church. Set into the limestone walls of the old city boundary wall are 13th century life-size effigies of ladies and knights. We also visited the Dominican Friary with its row of beautiful lancet windows. All too soon our visit to this great medieval town was over. Our brave and good knight led us there – he now sits at a very special round table. We say “Farewell, Our Brave and Good Knight!” Isabella Bolger