It's better for Irish men to surround the northeast (5)
I believe the answer is:
finer
'it's better' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'irish men to surround the northeast' is the wordplay.
'irish men' becomes 'fir' ('men' in Irish Gaelic).
'to surround' is an insertion indicator.
'the northeast' becomes 'NE' (abbreviation).
'fir' placed around 'ne' is 'FINER'.
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for finer that I've seen before include "'Nothing could be . . . . . than to be in Carolina, in the morning' (popular song)" , "Of higher quality" , "Better; more slender" , "magistrate?" , "More gossamer or splendid" .)