The recent closure of the former Cork Savings Bank on Lapps Quay marks the end of a long era of banking in one of Cork’s first buildings, opposite Cork City Hall.

I am a sociologist interested in issues of inclusion and exclusion in Irish society and the management of spoilt identity.

Concerning your headline “GRA (Garda Representative Association): Top jobs in gardaí based on social link” (Nov 23), it has been a long established belief within An Garda Síochána that senior promotions were largely based on political patronage.

Louis Walsh tumbled like a showman from the High Court this week into the embrace of waiting media and described in great and vivid detail the pain, anguish and distress he endured when his character and reputation was egregiously undermined. His pain from loss, humiliation and deprivation was palpable.

There is an old joke about how, although we drive on the left hand side of the road now, we are going to change over to driving on the right. But just to be careful, we’ll phase it in.

Anyone shocked by the storylines of RTE’s Love/Hate has an opportunity to channel their anger to deliver a real blow against the pimps, traffickers and organised criminals bringing human rights abuses into our communities in real life.

It is obvious that the mission statement of this government can be summed up as: “Screw the poor! Target the weakest! Cosset the rich!”

Now that the Pope has dampened our Christmas spirits by telling us there were no animals at the Bethlehem manger, will he also reveal how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

On Nov 21, the Garda Commissioner told the Oireachtas Justice Committee that there are 13,500 members in the force.

The media have whipped us into a deeply emotional abortion frenzy.