28-05-2025
DAFM: €300,000 awarded to 22 agri-food tourism projects
A farm to fork experience, food festival and a farmers market are among 22 local agri-food tourism projects that have received around €300,000 in funding, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) announced today (Wednesday, May 28).
The funding is being made available under the 2025 Rural Innovation and Development Fund operated by DAFM.
The fully funded projects include:
Cromane Seafest, Co. Kerry which received €25,000;
Wildacres Honey Tour, Co. Wicklow which received €14,630;
Inishturk Community Club – Taste of Inishturk, Co. Mayo which received €16,800;
Hannah Quinn Mulligan, Tory Hill House Farm Shop, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick which received €6,458;
Boyne Valley Food Heroes, Co. Meath which received €13,317;
Taste of Sligo Food Festival, Sligo Town which received €10,500;
Oakfield Park, Raphoe, Co. Donegal – Donegal Festival of Food which received €23,689;
Kildare Co. Council Naas Farmers Market which which received €17,650;
Hinterland West CLF, Clonbur, Co. Galway – Farm to Food Experience which received €9,884;
Lough Gur Visitor Centre Food and Craft Experience, Bruff, Co. Limerick which received €24,000;
Stephen Pratt Maize Maze, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois which received €23,800;
Mount Briscoe Organic Farm, Daingean, Co. Offaly – A taste of the land which received €15,400.
According to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, (DAFM) Martin Heydon, these initiatives 'build on progress already made' to promote agri-food tourism in different counties.
Minister Heydon said: '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.'
DAFM
The projects partly funded by DAFM include:
Cavan County Council (Cavan Food Network) which received €10,000;
Destination Lough Derg (Tipperary County Council) which received €10,000;
Kilkenny County Council (Taste Kilkenny) which received €10,000;
Monaghan County Council (Food Destination Promotion) which received €10,000;
Taste Experiences Waterford which received €10,000;
Elmgrove Flower Farm, Gormanstown, Co. Meath – Daffodil Festival 2026 which received €10,000;
Boyne Valley School of Food Culture, Co. Meath – Samhain Festival which received €10,000;
Ailbhe Gerard, Field Exchange, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary – Food and Craft Festival which received €10,000;
Tipperary Food Producers Network – Food Tourism which received €10,000;
Common Knowledge Centre, Kilfenora, Co. Clare – Land and Lore events which received €10,000.
According to MInister Heydon, agri-food tourism in rural areas allows '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,' he added.
Separately the Minister of State with responsibility for food promotion, Noel Grealish, said that the large volume of applications submitted for funding '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,' the minister added.
