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I don't understand these ?

Top o' the Mornin' to you Trevor!

So cryptic, so early in the day...

Did you mean by your post that you don't think that HARPOON and NORMAN are the right answers or that you are not happy about the wordplay for them? Or both or neither?

I hear coffee (will be right back) ...

Jim

C

sorry Jim, I've been out.

I meant I don't understand the full wordplay for either clue.

Trevor
Can I interject here please JimC?
Harpoon as a weapon was always used to kill(massacre)whales. I think the answer is as simple as that.
NORMAN anag.of roman+n.The Normans certainly were in Ireland(and just about everywhere else).
It may be that this puzzle is from an Irish source.
Keep things as simple is my motto.
Regards
Joker

Hi TJ.
re 2nd clue, I could see the anagram but wondered about the word Irish being there. I think you may be right about it being from an Irish source.

where do we get "oon" from in the 1st clue?

Thanks TJ - spot on.

'oon' is an Old English word meaning 'one', so I equated it with 'from the start' in the clue. A bit weak, but anyway ...

Jim

C

thanks TJ. JimC.
I think you are both correct, not the greatest clues though.