13 - 14 October 2012
Venue: Killegar, Carrigallen, County Leitrim
Have you ever walked through fields and woodlands during Autumn and wondered which mushrooms you see growing would be safe to eat and which are best avoided? The All Ireland Mushroom Festival is your chance to find out! Held in the grounds of the enchanting Killegar Estate, County Leitrim, over the weekend of 13th to 14th October, 2012.
Killegar was chosen as the ideal location for the All Ireland Mushroom Festival not only because of its beautiful grounds, it has a significant and rare continuous native woodland which produces a vast array of mushroom and fungi. On just one day over 120 different species were discovered. A percentage of these had not been previously recorded in Ireland.
Explore ancient woodlands, learn how to identify both eidible and poisonous mushrooms from Ireland's top experts in the grounds of the estate. Specialists will lead groups on guided forays in beautiful ancient woodlands. Watch cookery demostrations by TV celebrity chefs Brian McDermott and Neven Maguire.
Makers of traditional bows, Mircat Manufacturing, will exhibit various styles and development of bow making through the ages and give an archery display where you will have an opportunity to 'learn to lose’ an arrow. Treasure hunts and storytelling for children, old fairground games, heritage displays and a chance to learn abut the mysterious role of fungi in the forest ecological cycle. Bring a picnic and get back to nature!