Arrogance of power

THE other day in downtown Mayfield, on the upside of Cork city, I spotted two garda outriders shooing traffic aside to permit a black Mercedes through at speed.

I remembered a moment long ago in my brother’s old car when, sitting at a red light, a Jaguar pulled up beside us.

I was spellbound. My brother said, “d’ya see yer man?” - a small, bloated, old guy low behind the wheel.

I said, ‘yes’. My brother quickly added, “he doesn’t see you”.

I thought about that again as the Merc sped past and a brief glance through the tinted windows revealed ‘a suit’ being briefed by an agitated assistant.

And I thought of another old saying my mother was fond of - “Watch the faces you pass on the way up because they’ll be grinning at you on the way down”.

John Mallon

5 Shamrock Grove

Mayfield

Cork