There was a fantastic fungi item on a Co.Offaly mushroom growing operation on RTÉ’s Ear to The Ground of December 2nd.
The item focussed on the mushroom farm of Joe Gorman and his wife Dolores, who had grown mushrooms for many years up until the rupture that was Brexit.
Brexit with all it’s attendant consequences, but notably the massive fall in sterling value forced the Gorman mushroom farm to shut with the loss of 29 jobs.
But rising phoenix-like, the couple re-emerged growing exotic strains such as shiitake, grey oyster, pink and yellow oyster and coral fungus. The company now Garryhinch Wood Mushrooms is going from strength to strength, supplying Asian varieties into the growing Irish market for exotic mushrooms and employing nine full time workers at present.
The re-purposing of the mushroom units with their gleaming Dutch shelving, to mushrooms grown on logs and in bags, was a sight to behold. The resilience of the couple was also fantastic to see. A televisual item worth a watch on RTÉ player for sure.
