Supported by

Background

The Royal Irish Academy (RIA) Standing Committee for Archaeology (‘the Committee’) has the responsibility of allocating and administering funding provided annually by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the National Monuments Service.

Applicants are asked to read all details of the scheme below carefully before submitting an application. The guidelines document can also be downloaded here.

The average grant awarded has previously been in the region of €20,000.

If applying for excavation, each application must cover excavation and post-excavation requirements for that season.

You can apply to AREG here.

All queries can be sent to grants@ria.ie with the subject line: AREG

Four people inside an excavation trench in an upland area. The background shows further hills and fields.

Details of the scheme

A woman with dark hair and a navy jacket uses a trowel to excavate earth within an area defined by a orange cords.

What you need to know to apply

A group of ten people standing outside an archaeological excavation trench which is defined by yellow cord. Inside the trench a number of stones can be seen. Elaine Lynch, pictured in a blue t-shirt is inside the trench.

How to make your application

The mucky interior of a cave, with a wooden palette pathway. The daylight outside the cave is in the background.

How we assess and decide

A grassy field within which a narrow archaeological excavation trench runs from left to right. Three people are working on their knees inside the trench and one person adds to a mound of stones outside the trench.

Terms and conditions for successful AREG grantees

Grant Project Reports

View all previously funded projects

Aerial view of a small island, known as The Rock of Lough Key, which has a castle-like construction on it and archaeological excavations underway.

The Rock of Lough Key

Excavations continued on the Rock of Lough Key for a third season, following successful campaigns in 2019 and 2022.

Thomas Finan

Archaeology Research Excavation Grants Reports

View looking out at daylight from inside Kilcolman Cave with archaeological excavations underway in the foreground.

Castlepook Caves Project

This report summarises the results of two weeks of excavation and survey work at Kilcolman Cave from April 1-15, 2023, and three days of geophysics…

Dr Richard Jennings

Archaeology Research Excavation Grants Reports

Close-up photograph of a blue glass bead, with dust and dirt on it, held between a person's thumb and forefinger.

Excavation of two enclosure/hut sites in Ballyganner North, Co. Clare (Phase 2)

The excavation of two enclosure/hut sites CL009-242—- and CL009-292—- in the townland of Ballyganner North, Co. Clare (Phase 2) was undertaken from 8 May to…

Elaine Lynch

Archaeology Research Excavation Grants Reports

Archaeology Research Excavation Grants Awarded 2023

Please click download to view a list of the most recent AREG Grants awarded. Individual reports will be published here in 2024

Royal Irish Academy

Archaeology Research Excavation Grants Reports