all answers include the name Mary

[doorknob]

1. A cook who spread more than good taste (7,4)

2. Offspring of a christmas bird who flew high in the Emerald Isle (4,8)

3. A report from this Baroness (4,4,7)

4. Strangely an Irish premier - ending in an illegal execution (4,4,(4),5)

[halfadaily]

got the first one:Typhoid Mary

[oarsman]

4. Jack (John Mary) Lynch

[oarsman]

3. Lady Mary Warnock??

[juliefer]

2. Mary Robinson - first female president of Ireland

[doorknob]

Many thanks all, 4 straight replies. Not totally sure about number 3 - the word "report" I think is relevant to the answer. I'm struggling on a few others but don't want to concede just yet - watch this space.

Cheers DK