Make ‘em Irish

[auee89]

Enjoying the spoilers this morning!

[cbarbee002]

Off the 62A after a late-night epiphany re application of the clue. A real "smack my head" moment. I won't lie - - I did look at the nudges this morning.
Very clever meta Jay!

[JeanneC]

Off the couch! Clever and a fun solve!

[Bob cruise director]

Because it required a shove, this will be me

[Hidden in 3D]

Just confirmed that I am off the couch on Crosshare. Too much going on to get around to the puzzle until this morning, but I intentionally didn't log onto the forum so I wouldn't look at the Spoilers. I read them a few moments ago - WOW! They were almost as much fun as this brilliant MMM! Thank you so much, Jay!

[KayW]

I highly recommend reading the spoilers, even - or especially - if you've already solved. Kudos again, Jay!

[mindle]

The nudges are so funny!!
I really enjoyed the puzzle!

[Joe Ross]

Oh. I get the
now.

[Cinny]

Late start on metas this week. This was a great one. Off the couch. Liked the nudges almost as much as the puzzle!!

[DrTom]

OK, given the day and the puzzle this just seemed like a natural thing to post. I cracked up the first time I ever saw it and again today.

[SJMcK]

Day 1 of St. Patrick's Week brought out 45 solvers, many with kind words. Keep those cards and letters coming, folks. (I think the list below has everyone. but if I've left you out, let me know.)
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Solvers 3-15.jpg
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There were also a couple of great suggestions for theme entries I might have used ifonly I'd been clever enough to think of them and find a place for them in the grid. Maybe next year.

I’m listed twice. I solved on Crosshare and PMed you that I couldn’t submit a meta solution there, then went back to Crosshare to submit after you had fixed it. You must have me listed for both the PM and the Crosshare submission

[minimuggle]

Fantastic puzzle. Thanks for the St Pats entertainment. I am finally off the couch with my green beer

[ArchaicMage]

I think I got it! Couldn't find it on Crosshare (which I just learned about...) so not sure how to confirm...

[benchen71]

I think I got it! Couldn't find it on Crosshare (which I just learned about...) so not sure how to confirm...

You can PM the constructor, @Bird Lives, with your meta solution.

[CPJohnson]

I’m late to the party this week…pretty sure I got it. Thanks, Jay!

[MaineMarge]

Finally off the couch, after waiting since yesterday for Jay to confirm. Had to give him a PM nudge, starting with, “Earth to Jay- can you read me?..” he must have had the luck of the Irish and beamed up over on MGWCC.
Meanwhile I’ve spent my couch time productively while waiting, so I’ll be beaming up there too, couch and all.

[Bird Lives]

The final tally: 72 solvers.
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The answer was BLARNEY. The puzzle was brought to you by the letter O.

The key was 66 Across. The clue was “A year in Spain or what must be added to seven entries in the grid as hinded at by their clues.” Solvers saw that what had to be added was not “Año” but “AnO.” The clues for the seven entries were the seven clues that started with the letter O.

You had to make seven entries Irish by starting them with an O. Step Two: find a clue that fits the newly formed word. So 5 Across BAMA becomes OBAMA, and the clue for 19 Across is “US President.” The first letters of the answers to those clues spell BLARNEY.
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Only a few people contributed alternate O combinations. There was Mary J. BLIGE, who becomes a synonym for BIND (which in an earlier version of the puzzle was the B-word). PINION could have been the E as in EDITORIAL. Thanks DrTom.
My favorite came from Jay Miller, known in these parts as Oldjudge, who suggested:

Clue 1: Oldjudge and Bird Lives—-Jays
Clue 2: 1960’s band—-Beatles
We could have replaced the B combo.

Alas, the Love Train never left the station.

Thanks to everyone.