Looking at wild fungi and collecting edible fungi has got very popular in recent years in Ireland.  There is virtually no tradition of collecting wild fungi for the table in Ireland as there is in mainland Europe, so getting to know the good edible fungi and avoiding the poisonous ones is not that straightforward.  It is essential to get a good field guide and preferably get some field experience from somebody who knows their fungi.  There are many field guides in print; below is a short list of some good ones 

• Mushrooms and Other Fungi of Great Britain and Europe (Roger Phillips, Lyndsay Shearer, Derek Reid  and  Ronald Rayner. A Pan Original)
• Mushrooms and Toadstools (Brian Spooner. Collins Wild Guides)
• Mushrooms (Roger Phillips)
• Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and North-West Europe (Marcel Bon)
• Field Guide Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe (Peter Jordan)

There are (probably) about 3,500 different kinds (species) of larger fungi in Ireland.  The popular guides above only cover the common ones. If you are interested in collecting wild fungi for the table you must get to know the edible ones on your area, and ALSO the poisonous ones, particularly those that are very similar (look-alikes) to edible types. Here are a few “golden rules” for collecting wild fungi for eating:

• NEVER eat any fungus that you cannot positively identify;
• NEVER allow children to gather mushrooms for consumption
• NEVER mix known edible fungi with questionable species while gathering, since parts may break off and intermix. A single poisonous mushroom can poison an entire basket. 
• IGNORE old wive’s tales and “folklore” such as the following:

“Only toadstools that have  bright flashy colours are poisonous” (FALSE; the destroying angel (Amanita virosa) is pure white and is one of the most deadly fungi known)

“Only toadstools that are not eaten by slugs or that don’t have larvae in them are poisonous” (FALSE)

“Only poisonous fungi become black when touched by an onion or silverware”(FALSE)

 “Poisonous mushrooms smell and taste horrible”. (FALSE, some apparently taste very good!

“Even poisonous mushrooms if cooked well enough are safe”.  (FALSE)

“The really deadly fungi are very rare” (FALSE)

“Hallucinogenic mushrooms might give a bad trip but they won’t kill you!” (FALSE).

Even if you have are confident that your have collected a good edible fungus, if you have never eaten it before, limit your consumption to 150 grams at most in one meal.  This is because peoples’ reactions to wild mushrooms can be variable.  All edible wild fungi should be thoroughly cooked before eating.  Alcohol consumption should be limited when accompanying previously untried wild fungi; some types, notably the inkcaps (Coprinus species), can cause severe stomach upsets in combination with alcohol.