Sir, – As one who remembers Pauline Maguire's Anchor Bar in Caherciveen with great affection, I read Andrew Robinson's letter (October 6th) with interest. The "meejum" was very common in south Kerry and even made its way into literature – in Sigerson Clifford's great song, The Races of Caherciveen, (Ballads of a Bogman, Mercier Press). The relevant lines are, "Then that night men did gather hearts light like a feather,/Round a meejum in Bawner's or a pint at the Plough. They toasted the horses that won out their courses, They shouted their praises while time did allow".
Incidentally Sigerson Clifford, who died in 1985 was also well known to patrons of the Anchor Bar and no doubt was partial to a meejum or two. – Yours, etc,