Polymath 449

[safflower]

Easily defeated today. 13a. A measure of the maximum amount of work that can theoretically be obtained from a system? (6) e - -- g -. 25a. Festival of Irish traditional music, dancing etc? (6) - - - a - h. 26d. In various games, a situation in which one side fails to score or is left far behind? (5) - - r - h.

[Buenchico]

13a Energy

[Plugging Awa]

Don't know the others safflower but 25a is a ceiladh

[dundurn]

25a fleadh

[dundurn]

No, it's definitely fleadh - there's a big one in London every year - it's a big organised gathering like an eisteddfod. A ceilidh is much more intimate (though sometimes as loud!) and has too many letters.

[safflower]

May thanks Buenchico, Dundurn and Plugging awa (love your names) Dundurn must be Irish. Anyway I could never find these things out myself.

[buncrana]

26d. In various games, a situation in which one side fails to score or is left far behind? (5) - - r - h.

Try LURCH.

I have ENERGY and FLEADH for the others. I'm Irish and FLEADH is definitely right.

[safflower]

Thanks buncrana. I got there in the end and found lurch. they often pop in an Irish clue. Or an Australian one!

[dundurn]

Only half right, Safflower, I have lots of Irish connections - my surname is from Fermanagh and my mother came from Belfast, but I'm a Scot. Dundurn is a hill between Comrie and St Fillans.