Sympathies are extended to the family of the long-standing mushroom grower Brian Smyth, who passed away, aged 70 years, after a lengthy illness, on the 28th of November, 2009.

Brian Smyth originally hailed from the Scotstown area of Co.Monaghan and he was one of the first batch of mushroom growers in the county synonymous with mushroom growing in Ireland. The Smyth family have had a long association with the mushroom industry stretching back to 1975.

Since that time, mushroom growing and the mushroom industry was the mainstay of life for Brian and his family.

Back in the days, Brian was growing mushrooms with Phase 1 compost, on wooden trays. He was a true pioneer of the nascent mushroom industry that we know today. Drawing compost from such diverse sources as Tommy Dudgeon, the Kernans and Tommy McGeary snr, the family’s unit went from strength to strength.

Brian retired from growing mushrooms in the mid- nineties, and his son Kieran progressed the farm thereafter.

Brian was always very highly regarded in mushroom circles and renowned for his conviviality and good humour. He will be terribly missed by the older generation of growers and by all who knew him.

Brian is survived by his wife Mary, and by his two sons Declan and Kieran.