A place for scientists set up by the foreign director in the fields of Athenry (6)
I believe the answer is:
ballad
'a place' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'scientists set up by the foreign director in the fields of athenry' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'director' could be 'd' and 'd' is found within the answer.
'the foreign' could be 'la' and 'la' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ballad that I've seen before include "Narrative poem or song" , "Narrative song of popular origin" , "Form of verse" , "romance" , "A simple or old song" .)