Elaine Byrne: We need Cosgrave and the tall poppies
The personal attacks on Cosgrave were typical shoot the messenger but ignore the message stuff
Australia calls it the ‘tall poppy syndrome’.
This pejorative term describes the tendency to disparage ambitious behaviour. It is directed toward successful people who are resented for their achievements. ‘Tall poppying’ is the process of cutting them down to size.
The Irish version is ‘above your station’.
The key scene in Colm Tóibín’s excellent Brooklyn perfectly illustrates this Irish aversion toward those considered too big for their boots. Home from America and wearing ...
