The Daily Eight (The Irish Times)

About The Daily Eight (The Irish Times)

The Irish Times has run the cryptic Crosaire since 1943 and the easier Simplex since 1951. In February 2026 it added The Daily Eight, which it introduced as a new eight-clue Irish Times crossword, compiled by Niamh O'Connor and published every day. The paper said it wanted an accessible, quick puzzle you can do while waiting for a bus, a pint to settle or a microwave to ping.

The grid is seven by seven with eight answers of five or seven letters, four across and four down, laid out so the long answers interlock. Clues are plain and friendly: on 2 October 2026 they included Treat badly (5), Super ... (ABBA song) (7) and Many-headed monster of Greek mythology (5). Each day's puzzle is filed by date, so everyone solves the same grid.

The puzzle opens directly on the Irish Times crosswords page in an embedded player with a timer, check and reveal tools under Assist, and a print option. When it was checked, the page let you play without signing in.

It suits anyone who wants a crossword in a spare minute, and makes a gentle first step before Simplex and Crosaire.

How to play The Daily Eight (The Irish Times)

1. Open The Daily Eight on The Irish Times crosswords page.
2. Click a square or clue; the number in brackets gives the answer length.
3. Type the answer; the eight answers cross each other.
4. Use Assist to check or reveal a letter or word if you get stuck.
5. Finish all eight answers, then try Simplex if you want more.

Tips

• Start with fill-in-the-blank clues such as song or name completions.
• The long seven-letter answers cross the most squares, so they open up the grid.
• Try to beat your previous time; the timer starts as soon as you open the puzzle.
• When it feels easy, move on to Simplex, then Crosaire.

Questions