Working with the clues, no chance of solving it. But if playing hangman it could be :

Well done, I am really impressed.

Rosemary

I owe you a beer or two

Chin chin

or maybe 'da ponte'

Dante and op (reversed)

Made a bit of a mess with the last 4 clues.

This one would help aplenty.

County's giving up its capital as a last resort
6 letters beginning with A

Is it Antrim?

Rosemary

Hi Rosemary.

I did think of County Antrim but I can't see how it fits the clue.



I think the main clue is 'as a last resort' and the cryptic bit is 'County losing its capital'

Regards

I wondered whether "as a last resort" referred to the fact that it is the resort near to the giant causeway and the "County losing its capital" refers to the many battles that have occurred there, I have not got time to research but maybe the capital changed at some point.

Rosemary

Well I've got it but I had to cheat. Even when I knew what it was it took me some time to work out why.

How did you cheat?

Not sure I fully understand how it relates.

Is the reason: the saying "always as the last resort" and alway as in Galway without the capital G?

Rosemary

I put the clue into a google search. It doesn't always work but this time it did.

County's (you need the s) giving up its capital is Galway's without the G.

The reason or relationship took me ages to work out - under the right circumstances 'always' means 'as a last resort'.

e.g. 'If everywhere is closed I suppose we could always have fish and chips'

= 'If everywhere is closed I suppose we could as a last resort have fish and chips'

Wow, I am amazed that I thought that one out immediately when I saw the spoiler answer, brain not as addled with age as I thought it was. Mind you I did not find the answer in the first place, then again I did not cheat.

Rosemary