A globular cluster distance scale based on Hipparcos parallaxes of subdwarfs has been used to derive estimates of M _ { K } for cluster Miras , including one in the SMC globular cluster NGC 121 .
These lead to a zero-point of the Mira infrared period-luminosity relation , PL ( K ) , in good agreement with that derived from Hipparcos parallaxes of nearby field Miras .
The mean of these two estimates together with data on LMC Miras yields an LMC distance modulus of 18.60 \pm 0.10 in evident agreement with a metallicity corrected Cepheid modulus ( 18.59 \pm \sim 0.10 ) . The use of luminous AGB stars as extragalactic population indicators is also discussed .