Dempsey’s Roman roadshow will leave mark on legions of teachers

On the face of it, the resemblance between Noel Dempsey and Scipio Africanus is minimal. Scipio was aquiline and thin in the hair department. Noel Dempsey is non-aquiline and most of his hair is still with him.

Scipio is largely forgotten, whereas the Minister for Education, at least until after the teachers' conferences at Easter, is set to be unforgettable.

Scipio was the victor against Hannibal. The reason we remember the loser in that particular conflict is his use of state-of-the-art transport, which back then meant elephants. You think Hannibal, you think elephants.