Hi all. It has been a while but my next puzzle should be up and ready tomorrow evening. Just a few kinks to iron out.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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A page devoted to Irish Crosaire style crosswords. The puzzles are completely original and all feedback on difficulty levels and enjoyment levels is greatly appreciated.
A piece about Derek Crozier written by Lorna Kernan
Now in his 92nd year, Derek Crozier, the man behind Crosaire - the cryptic crossword - is among the oldest daily contributors to The Irish Times, having survived two world wars, Irish independence, de Valera, JFK and any number of editors, writers, correspondents and "stringers" that came and went over the years.
While celebrating Christmas Eve in 1942 in the Palace Bar, Derek Crozier met Bertie Smyllie and Alec Newman, then Editor and deputy editor of this newspaper, and the idea of supplying a cryptic crossword was born.
The first Crosaire was published on March 13th, 1943, and the format was simply one each week on Saturday, with wife Marjorie filling in the grids and him conjuring up the clues. This was in addition to his day job in Guinness. This situation didn't change until 1950, when a Wednesday Crosaire was added to the schedule. Two years earlier Crozier had quit his job with the brewery to farm tobacco in what is now Zimbabwe.
Tuesdays were added in 1955. However, it wasn't until 1982 that the Crosaire crossword appeared daily. Crozier also taught English between 1964 and 1990 at St George's College in Harare and stood (unsuccessfully) for the Rhodesian parliament in 1962.
Derek Crozier's brain nourishment has become an enduring Irish Times phenomenon spawning crossword heats, readers' forums and an appearance on The Late Late Show in 1993 to celebrate 50 years of Crosaire, plus regular features celebrating his professional longevity.
There are the loyal fans who often phone or e-mail weeks after a crossword was published to plead for understanding of a clue that is driving them to distraction. Clues like "Zee CID error may eke out who we're talking about (6,7)". A clue as old as the paper itself.
About me
My name is Mark Bell. I am a student in Trinity College Dublin studying physics. I am an avid fan of the Irish Times Crosaire and I have been solving for well over two years now. I got the idea to start compiling my own Crosaire style puzzles from a fellow blogger and Crosaire fan, Bill Butler. In making each crossword, I try to keep the tone of Crosaire but with an added style of my own. I hope that you will enjoy solving them as much as I have putting them together.
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