The organiser of the Taste of Dublin food festival — which takes place this weekend at Iveagh Gardens — has been named on the Revenue Commissioners’ latest quarterly defaulters list, in respect of a tax settlement totalling €120,000.

From Bloomsday for Joycean lovers to al fresco dining in Dublin, from the fun side of the arts in Carlow to the annual Summer Show in Cork, this weekend promises a feast of festivals nationwide.

A hound for knowledge, The Menu is never done learning and always on the lookout for new culinary educational opportunities.

Summer in Ireland is festival season. Liz O’Brien picks some of the nation’s favourites — and reveals the people who work long and hard behind the scenes to make your summer happen.

Nessa Robins has finally got round to putting her popular blog, Nessa’s Family Kitchen, onto the printed page in a new book, Apron Strings (New Island Cookery), a mixum-gatherum of recipes, household tips, party and picnic ideas and cockle-warming tales of family and friends and her efforts to feed ’em all. With this former nurse also furnishing a list of natural food-based home remedies, it’s the class of tome a body could wind up consulting from the crack of dawn to the dead of night. www.apronstrings.ie

Jamie Oliver has laughed off reports that he has been hired to do the catering for the upcoming wedding of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Celebrity chef Derry Clarke gets together with fellow chef Kevin Dundon to give some barbeque master classes at this year’s Taste of Dublin festival.

CHAT show king Ryan Tubridy is refusing to open up about his wilted romance with Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin.

Ireland's largest outdoor food fest opens in Dublin later today.

Slow Food Barbecue in Kilrush, Co Clare on Sunday, June 10, in the Community Garden. Admission, €20 for Slow Food Members, €25 for non-members and children under 12 free.