Across:
8 The bishop’s place (see = S-EE-) overlooking front of parish (front of ‘Parish’ = -P-) church (-CH) (SPEECH), in a manner of speaking (SPEECH),
9 Thankful (RELIEVED) it’s about (RE-) piece of fiction (-LIE-) by retiring (= reversal indicator) old leader (de Valera = Dev = -VED) (RELIEVED),
10 Comfort (EASE) housemate cutting mouth (‘housemate’ cutting ‘mouth’ = seae = EASE),
11 Embodies the spirits of (REPRESENTS) agents (reps = REP-S) surrounding Ernest (Ernest) Cook (= anagram indicator) (Ernest = -RESENT-) (REPRESENTS),
12 There’s no cure for this (THE FLU) heartless (heartless/remove centre = i) thief (‘thIef’ without ‘i’ = THE F-) turning over (= reversal indicator) university (University of Limerick = UL = -LU) (THE FLU),
14 Has a partner (ATTACHED) working in the embassy (attaché = ATTACHE-) for US Democrat (-D) (ATTACHED),
15 Helping people to talk (SPEECH THERAPIST) to 8 across (‘speech’ = SPEECH) and one of 22 across (one of ‘therapists’ = THERAPIST) (SPEECH THERAPIST),
18 Regular (UNIFORM-) school (-S) (UNIFORMS) habits (UNIFORMS),
20 Foolish figure (ASS-) first (1ST = -IST) (ASSIST) to help (ASSIST),
22 Freudian’s (Freudians/analysts = THERAPISTS) article (THE-) on Knock (-RAP-) and unprecedented events (firsts = 1STS = -ISTS) (THERAPISTS),
24 Forget (OMIT) extract from sanctimonious (extract from ‘sancTIMOnious’ = timo) review (= reversal indicator) (timo = OMIT),
25 Took into consideration (INCLUDED) as uncle did (uncle did) badly (= anagram indicator) (uncle did = INCLUDED),
26 Source of apprehension (DANGER) in garden (garden = DANGER) waste (= anagram indicator) (garden = DANGER).
Down:
1 Pals (pals = SPLA-) working (= anagram indicator) at small (-S-) hotel (-H) (SPLASH) make waves (SPLASH),
2 Tom’s left rest home (‘Toms’ left ‘rest home’ = rehe = HERE) in this spot (HERE),
3 Meticulous (THOROUGH) short (n) prickly type (‘thorn’ without ‘n’ = THOR-) takes head off (r) Rocky (‘rough’ without ‘r’ = -OUGH) (THOROUGH),
4 Something for the actor (part) turning up (= reversal indicator) (part = TRAP) in The Sting (sting = TRAP)
5 Oldest (ELDEST) or new (= anagram indicator) steel (steel = EL-EST) found around the far side of Sheffield (far side of ‘sheffielD’ = -D-) (ELDEST),
6 Those seeing stars (TELESCOPES) or those looking heavenly (TELESCOPES),
7 Presumably those around Phoenix (those around Phoenix/mythical bird = FEATHERS) and Down (down / FEATHERS),
13 It’s on the house (FREE-FOR-ALL) in Donnybrook (donnybrook/scene of uproar = FREE-FOR-ALL),
14 Perhaps a grateful (ASHES from the fireplace/a grateful) tout from south-east (‘tout’ from ‘south-east’ = sheas = ASHES),
16 Judy’s mate (PUNCH and Judy) is making (= anagram indicator) gin (gin = -ING) (PUNCHING) and letting someone have it in Ring (PUNCHING),
17 A venue (avenue = ROAD-) on 23 down (‘side’ = -SIDE) (ROADSIDE), by the way (ROADSIDE),
19 White water rafting challenge (RAPIDS) with fast-track (RAPID-) to The Point (South = -S) (RAPIDS),
21 Spills (SLIDES) port (left = -L-) between cabbage and potato dishes (sides = S-IDES) (SLIDES),
23 Found in residence (found in ‘reSIDEnce’ = SIDE) by the border (SIDE),
24 Possesses (OWNS) topless (g) dresses (‘gowns’ without ‘g’ = OWNS).