A project in Co. Roscommon that has supported 90 local farmers to manage and protect over 260 archaeological sites faces the ceasing of its operations.

The future of the Farming Rathcroghan project is uncertain despite "extensive efforts" to secure long-term funding.

Initially funded through the European Innovation Partnership from 2019-2023, and later expanded through the EU Just Transition Fund from 2024-2026, the award-winning heritage project said it has been "delivering a recognised best-practice farming model within a complex and sensitive archaeological landscape".

"However, state agencies with responsibility for heritage protection have contributed very little financially over the project’s lifetime, despite repeated engagement and lobbying," the project board said.

The project is "actively exploring options" to secure interim funding to allow limited operations beyond March 2026, and remains "hopeful that state agencies will act positively to support a sustainable future".

The project's aim is protecting Ireland’s "rich archaeological heritage while empowering farmers to steward the land for future generations".

"Rathcroghan is where ancient landscapes and modern innovation meet sustaining communities, culture, and nature in harmony."

Farming Rathcroghan

Speaking to Agriland, project manager Richie Farrell spoke of the importance of Farming Rathcroghan to not only those involved, but the area in which the project operates.

"Rathcroghan is one of the Royal Sites of Ireland. It has a national and an international reputation. It's at that level, and that scale," he said.

"We've introduced a best practice model in how you can manage this heritage.

"Farmers have been hugely supportive and put a lot of work in as custodians of the landscape."

Through the European Innovation Partnership, the project received around €984,000, which kept it going from 2019 to 2023, Farrell said.

By that stage, it had developed local community engagement models and training programmes and more, and brought the project to a point where 30 farmers were involved.

It further grew with the Just Transition Fund, under which it received over €995,000.

Smaller amounts of supports for the project have come from other funds.

"We were able to expand the scheme. Now we have 60 full-time farmers and 30 trainee farmers. That's a big project," Farrell said.

'A great model'

With the project's "big chunk of funding" no longer coming in, despite it applying for further support, this "comes as a blow to a project of this scale", with the potential loss of a number of jobs and loss of farm supports.

He said the project team have a number of meetings and applications seeking for smaller amounts of essential funding, to keep the project "ticking over" for the rest of year, which would give the team time and opportunity to apply for longer-term funding.

Farrell said he remains hopeful that state agencies will act and the project will receive vital funding.

"This is a very successful award-winning project. A huge amount of work has gone into it, it is a great community engagement model combining farming, archaeology and cultural heritage - and it works," Farrell added.

"Why would you let it go?"