* in the completed grid the first letters of the solutions in numbered order run from A to Z
citadels D(ate) in ELASTIC (anag)
russet (t)RUSS/E(nergy)/(pu)T
neurones N(ationalist)<RUE(rev)>ONES
neeps N(orth)<PEE(rev)>S(outh)
quintet QUI<N(ational)T(rust)>ET
docents DO + CENTS
ironsmiths I (current) + RON + SMITHS [Maggie & Delia]
esteem MEETS/(decre)E (rev)
kora K OR A [KenyA]
xenogenous E(uropean)/GONE/X (rev) + NOUS
Hugo HUG(e)/O
mandir MAN + RID (rev)
aurora AUR<OR>A &Lit
vaunts V (5/quintet) + AUNTS
lairiest ES in (b)LAIRIT(e) [‘es’ = are/art in French]
gharries G(overnment)/HARRIES
orangery ORANG//(v)ERY
ziti ZIT/I(taly) &Lit
oppos SOP (rev) after OP
petuntze PE<TUN>T + Z(o)E
taxers S<REX>AT (rev)
journalese JOURN<ALES>E(y)
wont NOW(rev)/T
bourtree BROT(h)ER/U(rban)E (anag)
shtetl L(eft)/TETHS (rev)
unactive U + NA<C(our)T>IVE
firkin F(ellow)/IRKIN(g)
yesteryear Y<EST(h)ER>YEAR