Crossword Genius

An Irishman and a bird, for example (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pattern

'example' is the definition.
(I know this)

'an irishman and a bird' is the wordplay.
'an irishman' becomes 'pat'.
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a bird' becomes 'tern' (tern is a kind of bird).
'pat'+'tern'='PATTERN'

'for' is the link.

(Other definitions for pattern that I've seen before include "Sewing plan" , "Design for copying" , "Example; decorate" , "Model to imitate" , "Repeated decorative design" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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