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As part of the ClassicsNow 2020 Arts Festival CAI-T ran a student competition asking students to record a song, rap, recitation, dramatic performance, or any creative performance they could think of that was inspired by the Culture and History of Greece and Rome. They were encouraged to attempt these performances as Gaelige. We had 20 projects entered from 12 different schools across Ireland. While they were all of outstanding quality, there could be only one winner and one runner-up; our judges, Dr. Charlie Kerrigan, of the Trinity College Department of Classics, and Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin, of the UCD Irish Department, examined each award but eventually decided on the prize winners - each receiving a money prize of €150 and €100 respectively. Although not all could win a prize, they did select several Honourable Mentions who were very close contenders and are worthy of recognition.
2020 Winner
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Our winner for the Speech and Drama competition was a wonderful recitation by Ruth Sampson of Catullus 34, translated as Gaelige by Deirdre Brennan. Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin said of the entree - ‘The pronunciation and reading are almost perfect - beautiful dialect reaching all the standards required for phonology and interpretation in the context of the recitation. Beautiful recitation.’
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2020 Runner-Up
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Our Runner-up was a music group who sang a wonderful original song "Ode to Hospitality" by Elisa Flynn, Eva Stylianides, James Moriarty-Smyth, and Julie Huckfedt. A truly wonderful song about one of the core Ancient Roman and Greek values that we perhaps might do well to adapt to modern times. Dr. Charlie Kerrigan described the song as - "an original and inventive tribute to ancient (and modern) hospitality: a collaborative performance full of fun and humour."
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Honourable Mentions
The first of our Honourable Mentions was a reading of Theseus' 4th Labour, Sciron, by Stephen Cullen. It was an excellent reading, clear and dramatic.
Our second Honourable Mention was a wonderfully innovative rap, "The Fresh Prince of Troy". A highly creative and fun approach to a familiar Greek myth!
Our third and final Honourable Mention was a highly-developed dramatic monologue from Ajax. The performer showed a high standard performance that was a worthy contender!
