CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
November 2017
The CAI Presidential Address 2017 Dr Carmel McCallum-Barry: Women in Classics: some landmark achievements from the Renaissance to the twentieth century
Ms Carmel McCallum-Barry, Honorary President of the Classical Association of Ireland, with the Classical Association of Ireland medal winners 2017 (Photo: Isabella Bolger)
The CAI Presidential Address took place at UCD on Friday, 24 November. The Chairperson, Isabella Bolger, invited the Honorary President for 2017, Dr Carmel McCallum-Barry, to address the members. Her lecture title was ‘Women in Classics: some landmark achievements from the Renaissance to the twentieth century’. This was a very interesting talk about the contribution made by women to the translation and reception of ancient classics, including works by Plato, Livy and Tacitus. The President’s research revealed the astounding body of work undertaken by a variety of women throughout history. The vast majority were the daughters of learned men, tutored by their fathers and protected within the class system, and their role was a private one. The work of Italian translators Isotta Nogarola (1418-1466) of Verona and Cassandra Fedele (1470-1556) of Venice were considered and contrasted with that of English translators Mary More Roper (1504-1544), daughter of Sir Thomas More, and the Cooke sisters, Mildred and Anne. We learned that Lady Jane Lumley (1537-1578) was the first person to translate Euripides into English. Studies of the Bible, including writings of the Church Fathers, were translated extensively at this time. The children of King Henry VIII studied ancient Greek and Latin: Queen Elizabeth I read ancient Greek. 2
The work of other translators was also considered, including African-American educators Lucy Laney (1854-1933) and Anne Julie Cooper (1858-1964). Reference was also made to the huge contribution made by the English editor and translator Betty Radice (1912-1985), who was editor of Penguin Classics for many years. The lecture cast a light on the immense volume of translated texts contributed by women which quietly permeates the literary canon of Classical study. The audience showed great appreciation for a fascinating account of this extremely interesting topic, which will no doubt come up for discussion in future. A vote of thanks on behalf of the Association was given by Dr Martine Cuypers, Assistant Professor in Greek at Trinity College Dublin. The Association is committed to encouraging study of the Classics. In this regard it awards two medals annually in recognition of the achievements of second-level students: the Centennial Medal and the Jack Henderson Medal. These awards are presented to the winners by the CAI Honorary President following the Presidential Address. This year the Association conferred additional honours, the President’s Awards. Medals were presented to each of the students who attained the highest mark in a Classical subject (Ancient Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies) in Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations.