A woodland wander to discover the hidden world of Fungi led by foraging enthusiast Kieran Brennan

Join us for a woodland wander of Ballinakelly Wood, Co Carlow, to discover the hidden world of fungi. The wander will be led by Kieran Brennan, foraging enthusiast, and supported by members of NWT Carlow volunteer branch

We will learn where to look for Irish fungi, how to identify them, and shed light on their hidden world with recent discoveries expanding our understanding of the the vital functions they perform within the native woodland ecosystem.

We’ll also discover the risks posed by some of our fungal friends to humans if consumed, how to identify these species, symptoms of accidental consumption, and what to do in a related emergency.

Meeting at Duckett's Grove Carpark at 10:30am sharp, we'll carpool to Ballinakelly Wood. After a brief introduction from Kieran, we'll split into teams to scour the woodland in search of fungal forms. Meeting back in a common area to pour over the samples, identify as many as we can, and learn about their features. We'll carpool back to arrive at the Carpark before 2pm.

We will hold a voluntary donation at the end of the event to raise funds to support the Native Woodland Trust and their conservation efforts at Ballinakelly Woods

Date: Saturday 24th October 2026

Time: 10:30am - 2pm

Location: Ballinakelly Wood, Burton Hall, Co. Carlow

Parking: Meeting at Duckett's Grove Carpark at 10:30 and carpooling to Ballinakelly Wood from there (Google maps meeting point pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/k5ai1UA2dvmn2v437)

What to bring:

A small basket or rigid plastic container for collecting toadstool samples

Warm and waterproof clothing in layers

Sturdy footwear

Water, snack and a keep cup

Any medication you may require

Any field guides or nature keys you have that might be of use, including mobile identification applications

Any magnifying glasses or hand lenses you might have, or reading glasses if you require

Latex gloves optional

Age limit: None. All minors supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

Toilet Facilities: Regrettably there are no toilet facilities on site in Ballinakelly Wood, so a stop en-route is recommended.

Cancellation Note: Events may be cancelled on short notice if there are adverse weather conditions or weather warnings in place. In the event that we do cancel an event on short notice, we will send an email to inform you as early as possible.

Native Woodland Trust Contact: Jeremy Casey 0871953629

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Description supplied by the event organiser.