Hi everyone,
If any of you think I am straying from The CROSAIRE ways, then please just me know as soon as you can and also any comments about the blog our previous puzzles are very much appreaciated!
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.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Hi everyone,
Posted by Mark Bell at Wednesday, September 23, 2009 0 comments
Sunday, September 13, 2009

Posted by Mark Bell at Sunday, September 13, 2009 5 comments
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Hi Everyone,
I am currently turning the first 11 puzzles into interactive format. The links will be shown in each puzzle. PDF versions will still be downloadable but some may prefer to solve interactively. They should all be up by the beginning of next week.
Posted by Mark Bell at Thursday, September 10, 2009 5 comments
Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Interactive Puzzle
Click here for printable version *Solution on page 2*
Across
9 O in the place of 17 across (7)
10 You, me, they and him are all it, singly (7)
11 You in do for two by the sound of it (3)
12 At the end, my French Pal will fold the Giro (7)
14 Here the short street sounds foreign for Lucy (2,5)
15 Nominates in the state and is a state to begin with (9)
17 O, rate the poetic Greek muse by all sorts (5)
18 The bloomers company about the South, gives the drug (5)
19 It sounds like it will propel the boat of eggs (3)
20 By the sound of it, turn the Gee had who is on a pilgrimage to Mecca (5)
21 Ate 501 with a mix at last (5)
23 Appear to be more pleasant to wear a sweet jacket (9)
26 I am back to, to copy and weep, by the sound of it (7)
27 The resident is sort of well in red (7)
30 She is back there and she is back there behind (3)
31 Charge in team for the confused vertebrae (7)
32 Check to see and listen if the mine is after a ten (7)
Down
1 Cool is crazy and is crazy in slang (4)
2 The way eight should be written in Crosaire (1,1,1,1)
3 They smash the waves (8)
4 In I go with 500 in the shade (6)
5 A with mail and eat in the past or abandon faith (8)
6 (2,4)
7 Sense and leave for one in the hospital (5-3-2)
8 The one who opposes is messy in the stag nation (10)
13 Here, in short, without the north (1,1,1)
15 Isaac and Adam have a thousand nuts, in a round about manner (10)
16 Calling Nick something else, perhaps? (10)
19 About to begin in the pig's den with 50 for Edward, and made new (8)
20 Nag the transport (8)
22 The month within the rod can make one better (6)
24 Confused about the tagged device (6)
25 It is in deck without my friend in the palace (3)
28 For the body, never back with O (4)
29 To begin, turn 'er F in the sea, so I heard (4)
Posted by Mark Bell at Tuesday, September 08, 2009 4 comments
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Posted by Mark Bell at Thursday, September 03, 2009 6 comments
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Posted by Mark Bell at Saturday, August 29, 2009 1 comments
Monday, August 24, 2009
Posted by Mark Bell at Monday, August 24, 2009 2 comments
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.