DIVERSITY APLENTY

The ideal weather conditions for wild mushrooms which pertained this summer and autumn have led to a bumper harvest for foragers this year.

Mushroom aficionado Bill O’Dea has said that the quality and diversity of fungi this year has been remarkable.

“We’ve also had record sizes for amethyst deceiver and girolle - not only are there more of them but they’re bigger than normal,” says O’Dea.

Restaurants up and down the country have taken to serving up mushrooms in many guises and formats.

Mark Cribbin of BallyHoura Mountain Mushrooms has described this year as amazing - saying this year has been good for both chanterelles and ceps.