Here are the answers to Irish Times (Simplex) Crossword puzzles Wednesday August 9 2017.

Area around the altar of a church – CHANCEL
Arguing about the price – HAGGLING

Cat-like creature with long body and bushy tail – MONGOOSE
Cross-bred hunting dogs – LURCHERS
Depressingly dark – GLOOMY
Distinctive smells – ODOURS
Goes, leaves – DEPARTS
Gold and silver, say – METALS
Gruesome, repellent – GHASTLY
Ignites or illuminates – LIGHTS
Impartial – UNBIASED
It can hold cartridges and hair – CLIP
It connects points of equal air pressure – ISOBAR
It impedes or hinders – HANDICAP
Leeches, parasites – SPONGERS
Long-legged ruminant – ANTELOPE

Lower part of the brain – MEDULLA
Mark left by a wound – SCAR
Mary…, Swiss Family… – ROBINSON
Member of a ship’s crew – SAILOR
Mural painted on wet plaster – FRESCO
Mushy ice drink to cleanse the palate – SORBET
Notion, thought – IDEA
Of the brain – CEREBRAL
Raise a subject for discussion – BROACH
Repugnance, revulsion – HORROR
Single unvarying note – MONOTONE
Snooping, nosing – PRYING
Strong impulse, desire – URGE
The scattering of a nation’s people – DIASPORA
Thread-like extensions of twining plants – TENDRILS
Without any difficulty – EASILY