' Bibelos at the Cedar Tree'
11a St Andrew Street Dublin 2
Satyrday 8th December 2007
at 20:45
Cost- €40 to be paid by 28th November
Contact the Secretary at: caidublin@hotmail.com

' READING:  Horatius on the Bridge (Livy)'
University College, Belfield, Dublin 4
at 19:45
Room K 217 (School of Classics)
LEADER: Brian Farley

Attached please find the two pages of text here:1.jpg, 2.jpg.
N.B. Everyone is welcome either to take part in the translating or to observe and join in discussion
Looking forward to meeting you all on the 6th
Brian Farley

Monday, 3rd December;
7.30pm, Anamnesis in the Memory of Plato.
8.45pm, From Lileth to Lorena- the Classical connection.
Speaker, Jerry McCarthy.
Cork Education Centre, Western Road, Cork City.

' Sharing Resources and Methodologies'
Inservice training for teachers of Leaving Cert. Classics is to be held in Dublin West Education Centre in Tallaght.
Teachers should bring any ideas, worksheets, CDs etc. -in fact anything they use which they feel helps them as Classics teachers - to the event. Refreshments will be provided at the venue on 24th of November from 11am until 1pm.

21st November: “Panem et circenses: Juvenal and the Literary Climate of his Time”, by Mr. Patrick Ryan, M.Litt., Limerick Branch.
All lectures will take place on Wednesdays, at 8 p.m. at the Limerick Education Centre,
Parkway Centre, Dublin Road

Reports from the event:
On Thursday November 15th, the fifth annual Eithne Ryan Memorial Lecture was held in the Lecture Theatre. Those who attended greatly enjoyed an informative and entertaining presentation by renowned Classicist Barbara Bell, author of the Minimus Latin textbooks. The lecture was entitled ‘Minimus – the Mouse that Made Latin Cool’ and included numerous anecdotes about the creation of Minimus, the revival of Latin in England and Minimus’ family at Vindolanda, now one of the best-preserved Roman camps in Europe. The talk was thoroughly enjoyed and afterwards the future of Latin was enthusiastically discussed over refreshments in the concourse. Many thanks to Barbara Bell who will return to the school on Saturday February 2nd to host a Minimus Teacher Training Day.
Maeve O’Dwyer, Sixth Year
Miranda Knight, Sixth Year

Visit of ‘Minimus’ author to 1R and 1H on Friday 16 November
On Friday 16 November all of 1R and 1H piled into the library for a talk with Mrs Barbara Bell, author of the ‘Minimus’ Latin books. For almost forty minutes she told us about the books and how she got started. She also encouraged us to choose Ancient Greek, her first love, as a subject for the Junior Certificate. Plenty of questions were asked and Mrs Bell showed us the Mini-Books, a series of ten books in Latin, each about a different character in ‘Minimus’. Afterwards we all enjoyed a piece of the magnificent Minimus cake organised by Mrs Nash in honour of the occasion. All the students then received a Minimus postacrd signed by Mrs Bell and a Minimus eraser. We all left the library feeling inspired and having a better understanding of Latin. It was a very interesting talk and we all had a good time.
Anna Nichols 1R

Mrs Barbara Bell’s Visit to Second Year
On November 16th 2007 the second year Latin classes were visited by Mrs Barbara Bell, author of the Minimus Latin books. The previous evening she had spoken at the Eithne Ryan Memorial Lecture about the success of her books and she remembered the people who she had seen there. She told us a bit about herself and then we were able to ask her questions: from who her favourite character was to how she decided to start studying Latin and Greek. At the end she did a book signing and gave out erasers with Vibrissa (the cat in Minimus) on them. It was a very interesting discussion and we had loads of fun. We all hope that next year’s speaker will be just as interesting.
Katherine Connolly 2R

REPORT: 2007 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

The presidential address of the Classical Association took place on Wednesday 14th November 2007 at 8pm. The venue was the Montclare Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin.

The address was given by the Most Reverend Dr Richard Clarke (honorary president 2007) whose title was A moderate man – John Cassian (ca.360 – 435). This was also the occasion for the presentation of the Jack Henderson Memorial Medal. The event was preceded by music played by a string quartet from Alexandra College: Eimear Claffey (violin), Fiona Cotter (violin), Hannah Connell Moylan (viola) and Hannah Nolan (cello) who performed O mio Babbino Caro (Puccini) and a march from Flavio (Handel).

Dr Clarke was introduced by Dr Anthony Harvey, chairman of the Central Council. Dr Harvey first congratulated those present (about forty) on their appearance despite the inclement weather. He then made reference to the recent success of the Association in founding a new branch in Sligo and commended Damhlaic Magshamhrain as being mainly instrumental in its foundation. Dr Harvey also praised (as did the audience) the string quartet for their rendering of the pieces presented.

He then stated that classical literature did not end with Alaric’s capture of Rome in 410AD but continued far longer. Hiberno-Latin literature comes from the same font. He then told us something about Dr Clarke’s publications. This included A Whisper of God - dealing with post-Christian Ireland - and a biography of Archbishop Whately.

Dr Richard Clarke began by telling us why he chose the subject of John Cassian. He lived in a time of great upheaval – a time of extremes both religious and political – and yet he always spoke, acted and wrote with great moderation in spite of the times in which he lived and the work he had to do.

Cassian is known as a semi-Pelagian. Pelagius said that man was essentially good: while needing God’s grace he could obtain it by himself. Augustine said that man was weak and so could only obtain grace through the mercy of God. Cassian maintained that man desired to obtain grace and could draw it from God to obtain salvation.
Cassian travelled all over the Mediterranean world. From Egypt he got his ideas on monasticism which he described in his two major works: the Collations and the Institutes. In these he exhorted monks to read passages with mind as well as heart and to repeat short prayers again and again. His favourite: “Come to my aid, O God. Hurry to my rescue”. He founded the monastery at St Victor in Marseille and influenced St Benedict when writing his famous rule.

He worked for Pope Innocent in trying to restore St John Chrysostom to his position as patriarch pf Constantinople. He is regarded as a saint in the East but not in the West (owing to his view on grace). His writing is beautifully modulated. As Dr Clarke says: “a man of moderation. Dr Clarke himself made the life and ideas of John Cassian very clear to his audience.
Dr Maeve O’Brien (NUIMaynooth) gave the vote of thanks to Dr Clarke. She expanded Dr Clarke’s words on the life and ideas of John Cassian particularly in regard to Plato and Greek thought. She also mentioned Cassian’s birth in the Dobruja region of eastern Romania facing the Black Sea; his erudition, his wanderings and his contribution to monastic life. She emphasised his usefulness as a conduit of ideas between East and West at a time of great dissension and difficulty in both politics and philosophy.

This was followed by the presentation of the Jack Henderson Medal to the student who came first in a Classical subject in the Junior Certificate (in this case Latin). Dr Harvey, in presenting the medal, mentioned that Jack Henderson was a much loved inspector in the Department of Education. The medal was presented to Killian Donovan from Gonzaga College who briefly thanked his parents and teachers for their support and the Classical Association for the medal. Then his teacher Mr Bevan spoke on the value of Classics in the world today; the rather shabby way it has been treated in the recent past and his hope that things would change for the better in the future.

The meeting concluded with a wine reception (including some delightful finger foods!) and the members of the Association departed well satisfied with the clarity of the presentation and the ambience of the venue.

Brian O’Connell

24th October: “Greek Figure-vases in the Hunt Museum”, by Ms. Clodagh Lynch, M.A., Limerick Branch.
All lectures will take place on Wednesdays, at 8 p.m. at the Limerick Education Centre,
Parkway Centre, Dublin Road

Monday, 5th November;
7.30pm  A look at the literature and writers of Ancient Greece.
Speaker Jo O'Connor.
Cork Education Centre, Western Road, Cork City.

24th October: “The Roman Pantheon”, by Mr. Michael Donnellan, B.E., Limerick Branch.
All lectures will take place on Wednesdays, at 8 p.m. at the Limerick Education Centre,
Parkway Centre, Dublin Road

10th October: “A Sorcerer’s Apprentice writes a Latin Dictionary”, Anthony Harvey (Royal Irish Academy)
All lectures will take place on Wednesdays, at 8 p.m. at the Limerick Education Centre,
Parkway Centre, Dublin Road

Monday, 1st October  7.30pm
Design and Decoration, Greek Style.
An illustrated talk on Greek Art and Sculpture.
Speaker Jennifer O'Donoghue
Cork Education Centre, Western Road, Cork City.

Thursday 20 September 2007 at 6pm
The Royal Irish Academy (Biblical and Near Eastern Studies Committee) is holding the following discourse on: "Prof. Stephen Emmel (Professor of Coptology at the University of Münster), 'The Discovery of The Gospel of Judas: Secret Wisdom: Gnosticism and Early Christianity'".
Tickets, which are free, are available from the RIA

17th September: 7.30pm.
Address by Branch Chairman, followed by A.G.M. and election of Officers.
8.15pm Tea/coffee break.
8.45pm A brief look at the History of Ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to Alexander the Great. Speaker; Mary Doyle
Cork Education Centre, Western Road, Cork City.

Friday 17th August:
15.00- Check In and Registration at Drumroe Village (for those who have booked accommodation through the Summer School committee).
17.00- Registration, outside the Charles Parsons Theatre, University of Limerick.
17.30- AGM of the Classical Association, held in the Charles Parsons Theatre, University of Limerick.
19.00- Reception in the Common Room (situation 5 mins away from Main Building).
20.15- Official opening by Willie O'Dea T.D.
20.30- Inaugural Address: Concepts of the Weather in Greek and Roman Times by Dr. Brendan McWilliams (Weather Eye correspondent in the Irish Times).

Saturday 18th August:
9.30- Meeting of the Incoming General Council
10.00- Lecture: Weather Lore as a Source of Imagery for Some Greek Poets by Dr. Pat Cronin, Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies.
11.00- Tea/Coffee
11.30- Lecture: Latin, whatever the weather by Ms Barbara Bell, Clifton High School, Bristol, UK (author of Minimus).
12.30- Lunch Break
14.00- Lecture: Postgraduate papers [Titles to be confirmed]
15.00- Tea/Coffee
15.30- Lecture: Signs from the Sky- from Constantine to Cashel (A.D.312-749) by Dr. David Woods, Dept. of Classics, UCC.
19.30- CAI Annual Dinner in the Castletroy Park Hotel.

Sunday 19th August:
11.15- Play-reading: The Clouds of Aristophanes, Dr. Rachel Finnegan, Dept. of Humanities, WIT.
12.45- Lunch
14.00- Outing to places of interest in Limerick including the Hunt Museum and St. Mary's Cathedral.

Registration fee: 55 euro (inc. tea/coffee and reception). 35 euro for Saturday only.
Extras: Dinner- 47.50 euro. Sunday Outing- 15.00 euro.
All lectures (except the opening) take place in Room 1060, near the Parsons Theatre.

CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
In co-operation with the Royal Irish Academy
LANGUAGE COURSES IN ANCIENT GREEK AND LATIN
Language courses in Ancient Greek and Latin are being organised by the Classical Association of Ireland in co-operation with the Royal Irish Academy, and will take place in Trinity College Dublin, from 25 June - 6 July 2007. There will be a beginners course in Greek and both a beginners and an intermediate course in Latin. The purpose of the School is to provide an opportunity for those with little or no knowledge of Greek or Latin to acquire a foundation in the language in a brief period of intensive study. It is designed to serve the needs of a variety of students; those who may wish to pursue a degree in Classics but have had no opportunity to study Greek or Latin at second level; those who need Greek or Latin as an aid to studies in related fields such as Philosophy, Biblical studies, Theology, Romance languages, English literature and Medieval studies; and those who are simply interested in language and in Hellenic and Roman culture.
The courses will be taught by experienced language teachers and will consist of three meetings per day with intervals for study between sessions. The courses will be for Beginners or, in the case of intermediate Latin, those who have already reached the standard attained at the end of the Beginners course (the first three sections of Reading Latin). It is hoped that, by the end of these courses, students will have acquired a sufficient grasp of the elements of the language to enable them to read simple texts.
The courses are open to all persons over 16. The fee is €200.00 (undergraduates, school students and pensioners €100.00). Registration forms can be obtained by phoning Professor Andrew Smith ++353 1 7168168.
Alternatively please email. Registrations should be sent accompanied by full fee to Language Courses in Greek and Latin, Professor Andrew Smith, School of Classics, University College, Dublin 16 2, by Friday, 15 June, 2007.
The textbooks for the Greek course will be Reading Greek (2 vols.) prepared by the Joint Association of Classical Teachers and published by Cambridge University Press.
The textbooks for both the Beginner and the Intermediate course will be Reading Latin (2 vols.) published by Cambridge University Press, and written by Dr. P. Jones and Dr. K. Sidwell.
These should be purchased in advance of the courses and can be ordered from Hodges Figgis.

Latin Reading Evening- Friday 8th June 2007

A Chara, Readers of the Irish Times will have viewed with concern the letter submitted to its columns on March 13th by world-renowned scholars of early Irish, concerning the downgrading of that subject in UCD. As members of the Central Council of the Classical Association of Ireland, we wish to point out that the anxiety of the signatories to that letter is shared by a much wider cultural constituency than might at first be apparent. For nearly a thousand years, all documents written in this island were composed either in early Irish or in medieval Latin. Yet there is no longer a single dedicated teaching post in medieval Latin anywhere in Ireland, either North or South, whereas UCD used to have a Chair in it, and there was a lectureship in Queen's University, Belfast. (In fact, the latter institution no longer offers even Classical Latin to students as a degree subject). If the systematic teaching of early Irish is to be threatened as well, this will deprive our young people of the opportunity for direct access to the only propositional sources of knowledge deriving from a millennium of their country's history. As our Association has had occasion to point out in the past, the current generation of University decision-makers is the first ever to consider it acceptable for their society to be expected to flourish without such umbilical links to its past. How likely are they to be right? Is sinne, le meas, Professor ANNA CHAHOUD, Representative, Trinity College Dublin Dr JOHN CURRAN, Representative, Classical Association of Northern Ireland MICHAEL T. DONNELLAN, Representative, Limerick Branch BRIAN FARLEY, Elected Council Member Dr RACHEL FINNEGAN, Representative, South-East Branch TOM GIBLIN, Elected Council Member Dr ANTHONY HARVEY, Chair Dr EDWARD HERRING, Representative, NUI Galway CARMEL McCALLUM-BARRY, Representative, University College Cork Dr ANN MOHR, Representative, Galway Branch Dr MAEVE O'BRIEN, Secretary, and Representative, NUI Maynooth BRIAN O'CONNELL, Representative, Dublin Branch DANIEL O'CONNOR, Representative, CAI Teachers JENNIFER O'DONOGHUE, Representative, Cork Branch DESMOND O'TOOLE, Student Representative PATRICK RYAN, Treasurer Professor ANDREW SMITH, Representative, Publications Committee Dr SIMON SPENCE, PRO & Membership Secretary Dr DAVID WOODS, Editor, Classics Ireland Dr JOAN WRIGHT, Elected Council Member-

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens, a day-school focusing on The Ancient Garden has been organised for Saturday April 21st. It will be held in UCD, in K217 of the Classics Department, running from 10 a.m. til 4 p.m. A variety of talks will be presented (see below for details), posters on additional material will be displayed in the UCD Classical Museum for viewing at breaks, and a reception will follow the talks.

Prices for the day are:
Free for Members and Friends of the IIHSA (membership will be available on the day)
€15 for non-members
€7 for students and unwaged.

All further enquiries and bookings can be made at iihsagardens@hotmail.com, or by phoning 01-7168476.

All are welcome, please tell anyone else who may be interested and look forward to seeing you then!

Talks
Alan Peatfield: Viewing the landscape in Minoan Crete
Jo Day: Gardens of the Bronze Age Mediterranean
Christina Haywood: Looking for the early Greek garden: trees, groves and potted plants
John Dillon: Philosophers and gardens
Hazel Dodge: The Roman garden; the evidence from the bay of Naples
Aude Doody: Grow your own vegetables! Gardening and good morals in Roman literature.
Helen Dixon: The ancient garden in the Renaissance
-

Tuesday 27 March 2007, 6.00pm.
Venue: Siobhan McKenna Theatre, Arts Millennium Building
Classics Society:
Prof. Brian Campbell, Queen's University Belfast

Monday 5 March 2007, 6.00pm. Venue: IT250
The Margaret Heavey Memorial Lecture 2007
Prof. Stephen Harrison , University of Oxford
Title: "History, Politics and the Aeneid"

February 23rd 2007
8:00pm in UCD School of Classics
The Eruption of Vesuvius. Pliny, Letters 6, 16

5:30pm in UCD School of Classics
Hugh Bowden (King's College London, England):
Isis and Cybele: Foreign Goddess and Local Mysteries.

Tuesday 13 February 2007, 7.00pm . Venue: Patrick F. Fottrell Theatre, Arts Millennium Building
Prof. Brian Arkins , Dept of Classics, NUI Galway
"Appropriating Seneca's tragedies: the case of Shakespeare"

8th February: Alexander, Dr. Philip de Souza
All lectures will be held on Thursday at 7.30 in Lecture Theatre P, the John Henry Newman Building, UCD, Belfield.
These lectures are geared towards Leaving Certificate Classical Studies Students, and students of Greek and Latin may also find them useful. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

25th January: Greek Art, Dr. Christina Haywood
All lectures will be held on Thursday at 7.30 in Lecture Theatre P, the John Henry Newman Building, UCD, Belfield.
These lectures are geared towards Leaving Certificate Classical Studies Students, and students of Greek and Latin may also find them useful. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Wednesday 17 January, 6.00pm. Venue: Dillon Theatre, Concourse Building
Dr Noreen Humble , Dept of Classics, University College Cork
"Spartan Women: feminist forerunners or traditional wives?"