Irish wit to handle heart’s sinking (5)

I believe the answer is:

wilde

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'irish wit' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for wilde that I've seen before include "He wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol" , "Oscar or Kim?" , "Author of The Portrait of Dorian Gray" , "Author of Lady Windermere's Fan" , "Author of The Picture of Dorian Gray" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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