No flies on pies at a wake

SIR: I write with regard to Mary Kenny’s delightful essay on the Irish way of death and the practice of leaving the coffin open for inspection of the late lamented (‘Postcards from the Edge’, September issue). I was always led to believe the true reason for doing so was to help keep the flies off the sausage rolls. But I may be wrong. I have been wrong before. (Revd Canon) Edward Davies, Macclesfield, Cheshire.