Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

bubber - I like muraria's idea too, it would be perfect if the abbreviation for Irish was I and not Ir - but maybe that's what the 'cryptic' reference is hinting at, and we simply accept I = Irish?

Nelson's discovery is horribly tempting though.

If we go the IFS route, shouldn't the colours be green white and orange?
(Although this would be difficult with 7 cells.)

I'm puzzled by the phrase 'one ambiguity'. The unclued entry it is meant to indicate isn't ambiguous - what else could it be? In defining it as 'one', the setter seems to be thining that we'll also be flummoxed by e.g. NCARAGUA. Surely he should have said 'one deficiency'?

Dysart is usually a very careful setter but he seems to have made several blunders in this preamble.

IonaCarr, I think the 'ambiguity' refers to the unclued answer in the top row. It could have been another place, if it weren't for the name in the grid. (PS I've not got my copy, so can't remember details, phrasing etc.)

My interpretation is that the ambiguity exists on the top line, where the answer could be on of two countries. The name resolves this.

Thank you both. I see what you mean (if R was C, which it could be). Even so, why say 'one' ambiguity, as if there were others? Why not just 'an ambiguity'? Never mind, I don't need any more chocolate.

It’s the i of independence which is represented by the red i logo of the newspaper to the left of the grid.

Just seen solution and as I guessed (fortunately) the colour of the I was irrelevant. Not that I won the blasted chocolates!