The Gazette 1987

SEPTEMBER 1987

GAZETTE

I handed the camera to a young passer-by, asking him to kindly take my photograph. The youth took possession of the camera and turned and ran off with it. I looked around to see where I was, and saw the surrounding walls pro- claiming "Shankill" and "No Sur- render". I called after him "Go on you Fenian b " . The youth stopped instantly, turned and came back, saying with surprise " ye ' re one of us ". He took my photo and returned the camera. The Belfast rendezvous with Brendan Walsh even t ua l ly materialised and plans for the evening were unfolded. They revolved around ensuring that I was sufficiently rested and that my liquid requirements were replenish- ed for the return journey. Brendan thinks of everything, and so when I returned to Dublin I bought shares in 'Sudocrem'! Brendan woke me at 5 a.m. on Sunday and handed me a list of names and telephone numbers. Any colleague who had accom- panied his commitment to our fund with cryptic, cynical or injurious remarks were on this list. Mary Collins (she of the 'Dromartin' Col- lins) was the first to answer, pass- ing the t e l ephone to Tony (otherwise, Anthony) who was, apparently, awake. I delivered my message of goodwill and hope that it was not too early to call and was off the line before I could receive his equally well-meaning response. Denis McDowell was wide awake and, apparently, on his way to bed. Padraic Gearty does not keep his 'phone beside the bed, neither does Diarmuid Barry or Kevin Smith! There were no lingering stops on the return to Dublin, but plenty of liquid, mainly of the innocuous kind. The highlight was a half hour's chat at Balbriggan with a tea lady who convinced me that she had organised the whole Mara-Cycle. I learned a whole new cycling vocabulary on this trip — such as " p a c k ", "slipstream" and "w i nd- break" — enough to be able to converse in colloquial terms with Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche. Also, I experienced a mystery — a pack of eight well-organised, regularly rotating their front man on their leader's command, passed me on three different occasions on the way back. I never remember pass- ing them. That was a mystery.

who, for the first and only time in his illustrious career, had risked playing an 'away game' in Balbrig- gan District Court. As I cycled towards Drogheda, I conversed with fellow-cyclists. One who came alongside, detec- ting a northern accent, enquired as to whether I was "coming or going". Another, already more weary than I, explained his reasons for being on this foolhardy expedi- tion as someone who could not resist a bargain and that, while in California last winter, he had seen bicycles for sale at the equivalent of £45 each. He first bought one and then, because they were so cheap, decided to buy another and brought them home. He then decid- ed at Easter that he would have to make use of his purchases and, for that reason, decided to participate. He was one of the few I eventually left behind. As we travelled out of Dundalk, up into the Newry Hills, (a car driver hardly notices these hills, but a cyclist does!) I was passed out by a pack of four, who then proceed- ed to collide with one another, with me just avoiding the melee. This was the first of t wo near personal disasters, one accidental and the later one clearly cons t i t u t i ng 'voluntary assumption of risk' on my part. Samaritan-like, I assisted the four to get re-started and rap- port was struck, which saw us lunching together in a nearby hotel. The four were mature members of the "Castlebellingham Spokes Club". After one and a half hours, I decided to leave the luncheon scene. Curiously, on my return journey from Belfast the following day, I called into the same hotel and saw the same four. I did not enquire whether their presence was continuous or a coincidental second visit like my own! Newry to Belfast is a tortuous series of ups and downs. To add to the discomfort, the rain started about 30 miles out from Belfast, during which time I suffered my first and only puncture. I hoped that Brendan Walsh, who was behind me, might come along but no such luckl I changed the tube myself. To the second near personal disaster. Within the precincts of Belfast, I decided to have a photograph taken with bicycle and perspiration. Having dismounted,

This two-day cycle marathon was a novel experience, made all the more satisfying as I knew Brendan Walsh had received com- mitments in excess of £10,000 for the Solicitors' Benevolent Associa- tion. Any colleague out there who has overlooked making a much- needed con t r i bu t i on to this deserving charity, I appeal to you now to send your contribution to Ms Clare Leonard, Secretary, Solicitors' Benevolent Association, 40 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2, or c/o The Law Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. Brendan Walsh deserves par- ticular thanks from all of us for con- ceiving the idea, implementing it and procuring so much sponsor- ship. All I had to do was sit on a bike to Belfast and back! •

Viewpoint (Contd. from P. 207)

adaptable to cope with current pro- blems and current needs. As Mr. Justice Walsh has said: " t he Con- stitution is in the present tense, and, the ultimate question always remains, what do the words of the text mean in our t ime?" Our Judges have donp well by the State in construing the Constitu- tion in this light. Could it be that it is our politicians, rather than our Constitution, that are in need of change? The summation by one of our most distinguished political commentators of this debate that " we should let well enough alone" has much to commend it. It is not only lawyers who believe that there is sometimes merit in main- taining the status quo. •

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