Holly Bough: Winners and solutions for Diffney Quiz and crossword 

The print was barely dry on the 2024 Holly Bough when the entries for the Diffney and Bumper Crossword started to land on our desk in November.

As in previous years, we received a massive response to this year's competitions with entries from all across the country as well as the UK and even the US.

We are delighted to today publish the solutions to both the Diffney and the Bumper Crossword and to announce our lucky winners.

Congratulations to Finola Lee who is our Diffney Quiz winner and to Emma Kavanagh who is our Bumper Crossword prize recipient!

Diffney solutions 

Answers below:

1. 100 Cent in a Euro; 2. I Saw 3 Ships Come Sailing in on Christmas Day; 3. a 21 Gun Salute; 4. The Craic was 90 in the Isle of Man; 5. Saturn is the 6 Planet from the Sun; 6. 5 Rings on the Olympic Flag; 7. 30/9/1931 the Last Trams Run in Cork; 8. Horizon: an American Saga- Chapter 1; 9. The Appenines are 1,200 Kilometres Long; 10. 6 Players on a Volleyball Team.

11. 30/4/1839 Rugadh an tAthair Peadar O’Laoghaire; 12. The Other 1/2; 13. Cork Opera House T12 DW6P; 14. 3 Goals in a Hat-trick; 15. The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; 16. a 1 Stop Shop; 17. the River Blackwater is 169 Kilometres Long; 18. 3 Score Years and 10; 19. The 1 by Taylor Swift; 20. Despicable Me 4.

21. The 7 Deadly Sins; 22. 1 Good Turn Deserves Another; 23. 25/10/1854 the Charge of the Light Brigade’ 24. The Annals of the 4 Masters; 25. The All Ireland Camogie Final, Cork 1-16, Galway 0-16; 26. the 2 Johnnies; 27. The 2 Ronnies; 28. The 12 Signs of the Zodiac; 29. 20/11/1954 Bunaíodh Ból Cumann na hÉireann; 30. 101 Dalmatians.

31. 2/8/2024 Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy Win Gold; 32. 1/2 Hearted; 33. Murphy’s Brewery Founded in Cork in 1856; 34. 13 is a Baker’s Dozen; 35. 1st Confession by Frank O’Connor; 36. Cheap at 1/2 the Price; 37. 5 Players in a Quintet; 38. All the Small Things by Blink-182; 39. a 1 Trick Pony; 40. There’s a Glass and a 1/2 in Every 1.

41. Giorraíonn Beirt Bóthar; 42. Cork Constitution, All Ireland League Champions 2023/24; 43. 1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back by Olivia Rodrigo; 44. 4 Suits in a Deck of Cards; 45. 127 Years of the Holly Bough; 46. 1 Day at a Time; 47. The 2nd Half by Roy Keane with Roddy Doyle; 48. Life Begins at 40; 49. Many Young Men of 20 Said Goodbye; 50. The 4 Corners of the World.

51. The Limerick Soviet 14th - 27th April 1919; 52. Inside Out 2; 53. Bus Route 220 Ovens to Carrigaline; 54. When I’m 64 by the Beatles; 55. Is Fearr Leath Ná Meath; 56. Cork is 5,770 Kilometres North of the Equator; 57. Between 2 Stools You Will Fall; the 7 C of the R; 58. The 7 Colours of the Rainbow; 59. Each 1 to His Own; 60. 2024 Chinese Year of the Dragon.

Crossword solutions 

Across

1. Cock robin 6. Drombeg Stone Circle 10. Ass 12. Ewe 13. Rural 14. Dew 15. Pea 17. Squirted 20. Ever 21. Dhoti 22. Rap 24. Meanie 26. Brent geese 29. Doner kebab 31. Choral 32. Seraphim 34. Angst 36. Wrapping paper 38. Anoint 42. Dense 46. Manger 47. Rum 48. Slice 49. Five gold rings 50. Dolphins 54. Churchgoers 57. Ink 58. Obi 59. Prism 60. Din 61. Hod 62. Sanctus

Down

1. Christmas cracker 2. Carousal 3. Ruler 4. Badge 5. News 6. Devour 7. Ooze 8. Benison 9. Godchild 10. Appearance 11. Star 18. The perfect Christmas gift 19. Dear 21. Dab 25. Infant 27. Eye 28. Trapped 30. King 32. Surf 33. Geneva 35. Gobsmacked 37. Nun 40. Biscuits 41. Vie 43. Sled 44. Ignition 45. Kitchen 46. Mel 49. Fields 51. Oriel 53. Wish 56. Song.