Minister Heydon and Minister Grealish announce €300,000 funding for Agri-Food Tourism projects
- Published on: 28 May 2025
- Last updated on: 28 May 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has announced the award of some €300,000 in funding to 22 local agri-food tourism projects.
The funding is being made available under the 2025 Rural Innovation and Development Fund operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Speaking on the funding Minister Heydon said:
“I am delighted to announce the successful projects which have secured funding following the Agri-Food Tourism tender process for 2025. It is great to be able to support these initiatives and build on progress already made."
Minister Heydon also highlighted:
“The great geographical spread of the projects this year illustrates the interest in the sector, the development of agri-food tourism and its importance to communities throughout the country. Our 10-year roadmap for the agriculture sector, Food Vision 2030, highlights the natural synergy between agri-food and local tourism.”
Minister Heydon concluded by emphasising:
“Agri-food tourism in rural areas allows our great food companies of all sizes to showcase their people, landscape, history and culture through agricultural produce, food and drink and local cuisine. In addition, it provides opportunities for rural businesses, including farmers, producers and artisans to develop their products and services, diversify their businesses, connect with the local community, welcome visitors and improve skills and best practice.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Food Promotion Noel Grealish also added:
“I would like to congratulate all of the successful projects in this years Agri-Food Tourism tender process. The large volume of applications submitted shows the appetite that this sector has for innovative and collaborative ventures in this sphere. The competition for funding under this programme is intense and those who were successful should be congratulated for their proposals and their upcoming projects. I wish all of those involved the best of luck for their events and I am sure that they will help to promote the fantastic food that this country produces year in and year out.”
Notes
Agri-food tourism broadly is the practice of offering an activity or activities as part of a visit to areas of well-known agricultural produce and to sample and taste the local or regional cuisine or specialties. Agri-food tourism includes a wide variety of activities that involve the links between agriculture and the food produced at the local or regional level. It may involve staying on farm or touring food trails and events, participation in agricultural endeavours or buying produce direct from a farm or market. Agri-food tourism also encompasses local food, farmer and artisan market schemes that support and are paired with local and seasonal food producers and artisan crafts.
Funding has been made available to the following successful initiatives:
Fully funded
- Cromane Seafest, Co. Kerry - €25,000
- Wildacres Honey Tour, Co. Wicklow - €14,630
- Inishturk Community Club – Taste of Inishturk, Co. Mayo - €16,800
- Hannah Quinn Mulligan, Tory Hill House Farm Shop, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick - €6,458
- Boyne Valley Food Heroes, Co. Meath - €13,317
- Taste of Sligo Food Festival, Sligo Town - €10,500
- Oakfield Park, Raphoe, Co. Donegal – Donegal Festival of Food - €23,689
- Kildare Co. Council – Naas Farmers Market - €17,650
- Hinterland West CLF, Clonbur, Co. Galway -Farm to Food Experience - €9,884
- Lough Gur Visitor Centre Food and Craft Experience, Bruff, Co. Limerick - €24,000
- Stephen Pratt Maize Maze, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois - €23,800
Part funded
- Cavan County Council (Cavan Food Network) - €10,000
- Destination Lough Derg (Tipperary County Council) - €10,000
- Kilkenny County Council (Taste Kilkenny) - €10,000
- Monaghan County Council (Food Destination Promotion) - €10,000
- Taste Experiences Waterford - €10,000
- Elmgrove Flower Farm, Gormanstown, Co. Meath – Daffodil Festival 2026 - €10,000
- Boyne Valley School of Food Culture, Co. Meath – Samhain Festival - €10,000
- Ailbhe Gerard, Field Exchange, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary – Food and Craft Festival - €10,000
- Tipperary Food Producers Network – Food Tourism - €10,000
- Common Knowledge Centre, Kilfenora, Co. Clare – Land and Lore events - €10,000