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.