€300,000 boost for agri-food tourism projects
Festivals of food, a privately owned estate and railway and an organic farm are among 21 projects who are set to share in a €300,000 funding boost.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, today (Friday, May 16) announced that funding offers have been sent out to the successful projects under the 2026 Agri-Food Tourism programme.
A call had been issued for applications to the programme back in January and Minister Heydon said today that there had been "an exceptional quality of applications" this year.
He said this reflected "the great interest that this scheme engenders across the country from local groups and individuals who are dedicated to advancing agri-food tourism to enable rural communities to make best use of their amazing people, landscape, history, culture and food".
The ninister added: “Agri-food tourism is a great opportunity for all rural communities especially local businesses, farmers, producers and artisans.
“I am confident that all of the projects will be great ambassadors for promoting the wonderful food that our rural communities produce.”
The maximum amount that any one project can receive is €25,000 and in the latest funding round two projects secured this amount.
These were Oakfield Park, Co. Donegal, which is a privately owned estate and railway in Raphoe and the annual food festival based in Dungarvan, the Waterford Festival of Food.
Funding has been made available to the following successful initiatives under the 2026 Agri-Food Tourism programme:
| Oakfield Park, Co. Donegal | €25,000 |
| Wild Acres, Co. Wicklow | €14,840 |
| Taste of Sligo Food Festival, Co. Sligo | €20,300 |
| Inisturk Seafest, Co. Mayo | €17,350 |
| Skibbereen & District Chamber, Co. Cork | €4,900 |
| Boyne Valley Food Heroes, Co. Meath | €11,970 |
| Monaghan Co Council, Co. Monaghan | €14,000 |
| Wicklow Naturally, Co. Wicklow | €15,050 |
| Sustainable Projects Irl, Co. Tipperary | €14,700 |
| Irish National Stud Commercial Ent, Co. Kildare | €17,500 |
| Waterford Co Festival of Food, Co. Waterford | €25,000 |
| Ballybunion Community Forum, Co. Kerry | €17,200 |
| The Cottage Market, Co. Cavan | €11,900 |
| Midleton & Area Chamber, Co. Cork | €10,000 |
| Comharachumann Forbartha Mhuscrai, Co. Cork | €9,445 |
Agri-food tourism
According to the Depatment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) 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".
DAFM has highlighted that this may involve "staying on farm or touring food trails and events, participation in agricultural endeavours or buying produce direct from a farm or market".
Under the 2026 Agri-Food Tourism programme a number of projects are also set to be "part-funded", these include:
| Kildare Co Council (Athy Mkt), Co. Kildare | €12,800 |
| Boyne Valley Samhain Fest (Ella Ryan), Co. Meath | €12,800 |
| Cavan Co Council Cavan Food Network, Co. Cavan | €12,800 |
| Cromane Seafest, Co. Kerry | €12,800 |
| Mount Briscoe Organic Farm, Co. Offaly | €10,000 |
| Midlands Flavours Pavillion, Co. Offaly | €10,000 |
