Mushrooms warning

At a time when people may be out picking mushrooms in the fields around Kilcullen, here's a timely warning about dangerous ones, writes Brian Byrne.

Frank Mitchell says that he has recently come across quite a few Yellow Stainer (Agaricus Xanthodermus) mushrooms in the fields around the town.

"These mushrooms are very similar in appearance to the Horse or Field mushroom (both edible)," he says. "If eaten, the Yellow Stainer mushroom can cause severe stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, sweating and diarrhoea."

Frank has noticed quite a prolific growth of these mushrooms in areas where people regularly walk through local farmland. "So perhaps a note of caution might save someone from a very nasty experience," he says.

His pictures are of some he came across this morning, just off the New Abbey Mass Path. Be warned.