IRISH DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Bees swarm around one, say, in swamp (7) 5 This type of weather could spread by end of May (6) 9 The end is nigh? You are said to be blocking it (7) 10 McCartney, king of the stars (7) 11 Rent out half of chalet (3) 12 First of many exotic countries storing sulphur get it wrong (11) 13 Graduate imports new piano (5) 14 Whiskey and fruit drinks bought for cash collection (45) 16 Discount Sherlock’s skill (9) 17 Part of flower that primarily appears in ring (5) 19 Prophet’s sphere of knowledge? (7,4) 22 Secret agent conceals letter from Athens (3) 23 Writer is returning pound to a government postholder (7) 24 Wake up judge dealing with small hotel (7) 26 Intense strain consuming Turkey (6) 27 Doctor sees trained redhead, theatre assistant (7)

DOWN

1 Unfinished work shifting blockage? Not all of it (7) 2 Secretary, say, is blunt, pithy and busy saint (9,6) 3 Local bird hidden in Adelaide museum (3) 4 Odds, paradoxically (5) 5 Studio can upset guard (9) 6 Women seen stealing signs (5) 7 Lime in rum deters drunk suffering this? (8,7) 8 Companion runs into swine (6) 12 Health worker ignoring last of rich Italian family (5) 14 Old Liberal hugs one excited girl in fairground ride (9) 15 Turn off power during part of film (5) 16 Almost floor a representative and abscond (6) 18 Hide right under the French articles (7) 20 Banned sailor as well as nurses (5) 21 Pungent corrosive substance overwhelms Republican (5) 25 Enemy of retreating English (3)