Sir, - It was interesting to me to read a letter concerning the above by Mr M Moloney in your issue of September 14th, because I was the first to have a newspaper article on the origin of Irish. Coffee published in Ireland. it was so many years ago, my copy is mislaid, but I have a good memory of the article which I researched at the time.
A group of American and Canadian war correspondents, on their journey home after the war, were stranded on a stormy and bitterly cold night in Rineanna Airpori (later Shannon) waiting for their plane to be repaired. The (Irish) chef there was woken up and asked to give them something special, on the house, to warm them up. He gave them well sugared hot coffee, a good measure of Paddy whiskey, and he put a dollop of sugared whipped cream on top of the mixture in each glass, and served ten glasses to the weary travellers.
One Yank exploded to his colleagues: "By God, what is this stuff, it's terrific. Who made this?" The chef was produced and said: "Sir, that is Irish coffee". There were repeat orders: they paid this time, I think, for more and more and they survived the long wait for a plane because of Irish Coffee, the first time such a drink was so mixed.
One of them introduced it on Fisherman's Wharf, in San Francisco, on his return. It took on fast, and the plaque was put up that year. It is good to know that the plaque is still there, in the Buena Vista pub/restaurant. - Yours, etc.,
Glasnevin Avenue.
Dublin 11.