Rathcroghan is a particularly well-preserved and internationally significant archaeological landscape, one of a small group of ‘royal’ sites which are included under the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Status (Royal Sites of Ireland). The Farming Rathcroghan Project’s objectives are to manage, care for and conserve this important cultural landscape by implementing a programme of economically sustainable and ecologically sound farming practices, and also facilitating visitor access to the area.

The project will formulate, test and develop a suite of innovative management solutions designed to sustain a viable and vibrant rural farming community in the context of a culturally and ecologically sensitive landscape. In so doing the project aims to raise awareness among the general public of the significance of Rathcroghan as a farmed archaeological landscape and promote the proactive role of farmers and farming in the care and maintenance of the living landscape in harmony with its rich cultural heritage and ecological assets. As part of this programme it will implement a range of best farming and archaeological practice to actively monitor, manage, maintain and present this ancient cultural landscape in an environmentally and ecologically-friendly way. Through engagement with key stakeholders and the National Monuments Service, archaeological expertise will be made available locally through the Farming Rathcroghan Project to facilitate and support the local farming community to protect, manage and conserve the archaeological and cultural landscape of Rathcroghan.