WIN €100 WITH IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY CROSSWORD No 1053

A prize of €100 will be awarded to the sender of the first correct solution drawn from a hat Entries must be received by Thursday, December 21, at Prize Crossword No 1053, Irish Mail on Sunday, Embassy House, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, enclosing your name and address. The winner of Crossword No 1052 is: Tony Devins, Bray, Co Wicklow.

ACROSS

1 A branch of technology (8) 5 See 23 Down. 9 European alcoholic drink (8) 10 One showing exaggerated feelings (6) 11 Trees with close-set prickly leaves (6-7) 14 Muslim officers (5) 16 Dazzling, masterly (9) 17 A Spanish gentleman (9) 19 A mournful piece of music (5) 21 Large ornamental tree (5,8) 24 High point (6) 25 Dome-shaped canopy (8) 26 Sparkle, shine (6) 27 Freeload, cadge (8)

DOWN

1 Sudden widespread phenomenon (4) 2 Historic Czech region (7) 3 Mode of transport (5) 4 Smooth-barked tree (6,5) 6 Free to speak – and bite! (9) 7 Female character in Dickens’s Great Expectations (7) 8 A source of timber (6-4) 12 Noxious tree producing ominous caps, possibly? (6-5) 13 Soothing tree (5-5) 15 Cartoon cat (9) 18 Russian sea, part of the Arctic Ocean (7) 20 Irish island (7) 22 US drugs agent (5) 23+ 5 Across. Ascertain definitively, put beyond doubt (4,4,2)