The Menu has nothing but admiration for those restaurateurs battling bravely onwards through fiscally fraught times but shudders at the nervelessness required on the part of some of Cork’s finest establishments participating in Cork Midsummer Festival’s Eat the Street (June 21-29).

The organisers of Ireland’s longest-running agriculture show have their fingers crossed for an extended heat-wave ahead of what’s poised to be an historic event for them.

More than 40,000 people are expected to attend two of the big summer shows due in Cork in the coming weeks.