MONAGHAN Middlebrooke Mushrooms, one of the largest producers of fresh mushrooms in Europe, swung back into the black last year.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 18.77 points at 5241.15 on a busy day for a number of major players.

Donegal Creameries is to create Europe's largest mushroom company with the merger of its Carbury Mushrooms joint venture with Connacht Gold Co-Operative Society and Monaghan Middlebrook Mushrooms Limited.