BARE BONES

Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. There is a prize of a Collins Pocket Thesaurus. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Puzzle No.613, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must arrive by Friday (photocopies not accepted). The winner of Bare Bones No.612 is Noah O’Mahony, Broomfield, Midleton, Co. Cork.

Across

1 Lets hit out at a national symbol 5 The bard managed to create some dimension 9 Fixed limit set on soft headwear (Two words) 10 I have to go back – damage is obvious 12 Some sharing takes in a network 13 Tailor’s initial determination to get a fabric 14 Fearless nobleman conceals himself inside 15 Work into a different form of soup 17 Beer contains a particular colouring 19 Waving fist, showing strain 21 Notice a bit of poetry is hostile 22 About to spread glue around old jacket 23 Everyone, say, bringing back gold at speed 24 Knocking to the floor in the garden

Down

2 Lethal venom extract cut by 50 percent 3 Describe a situation around stage (Three words) 4 Minimal energy seen during final 6 Celebrate the previous day from right to left 7 Talk with reserve, making a number of contacts (Two words) 8 Heard a note from a male singer 11 Wild woman has cover taken out 16 Plead to exchange part of a bicycle 17 Tricky question for an artist’s model 18 Tread recklessly to set up deal 20 Criminal was attacked, by the sound of it