[…] subjected to ridicule by the cardinalic junta, […]

The person running the meeting also has the important job of saying “Take it offline.” Whenever two or more people get off on a tangent that doesn’t require everybody’s attention, instruct them to continue the conversation outside the boundaries of the meeting.

[…] in those days, Ireland had no adequate champion; the Hoods and the Grattans were not up to the mark.

The grass and weeds come up to my waist and the plum trees are already fruiting up, though most of the fruit'll go to the wasps and the worms, Vinny says, 'cause he can't be arsed to pick it.