Archaeology Research Excavation Grant

RIA Standing Committee for Archaeology

Archaeology Research Excavation Grants 2026

Submission deadline: 17.00 (GMT), 15 October 2025
Please read the 'Guidelines for Applicants' with care as failure to follow guidelines may result in your application being rejected.

Previous knowledge of the site/research/individuals involved should not be assumed as the application will be assessed purely on the basis of the information submitted within this form.

Please ensure that you do not repeat answers across different sections of the application form as each question requires different information.

Please direct all queries to: grants@ria.ie with the subject line AREG

Please note: the form cannot be saved and returned to later - it must be completed in one sitting. It is advised to draft the application in a word document and copy/paste the information before submitting.
1. Project overview
a) Title of proposed project:*
b) Type of application*

New Excavation (not previously received RIA funding)Continuing Excavation (previously received RIA funding)Post-excavation (previously received RIA funding - only available in exceptional circumstances)Preparatory surveysReportingPublicationArchiving and accessioning
c) This question applies to previously funded projects only

Please tick this box if you are still in possession of objects/archives from previously funded RIA projects.
If you have ticked 'yes' above please provide a detailed assessment on the status of the post-excavation work.
d) Please provide a brief abstract (for publicising funded projects etc.). (max. 100 words)*

0/100
2. Applicant details
a) First name:*
Surname:*
b) Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCounty

Postcode/Eircode
c) Phone:*
d) Email:*
3. Project rationale (30%)

Criterion: The relevance of the proposal to the aims and priorities of this archaeological research grant (30%)
a) Site name:*
b)Townland:
c) County:
d) Grid reference:
e) Provide the name and addresses of landowner(s) if relevant: (Refer to Guidelines for applicants)
f) Please provide evidence in writing of permission in principle for the excavation from landowner, or from relevant NMS staff if relevant: *

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g) Location map: upload a photocopy of the relevant section of the Ordnance Survey map with the site or sites marked.(Refer to Guidelines for applicants)*

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h) Upload an adequate site plan with the site or sites marked (Refer to Guidelines for applicants), if relevant*

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i) Duration of work carried out to-date at site:
j) Expected further duration of work at site (including season applied for):
k) Please provide a brief description of the site (max. 250 words)*

0/250
l) Please list associated published references (max. 250 words).

0/250
m) Please outline your central research questions (Max 500 words):The Grants subcommittee will wish to see that the applicant is aware of the relevance of their proposal to the challenges of Irish archaeology and that this proposal is aimed primarily towards addressing such challenges*

0/500
n) Outline what is the estimated contribution to archaeological knowledge (max. 500 words)*

0/500
4. Employment and experience (25%)

Criterion: Ability of applicant and team to carry out the proposed research, demonstrated through a track record of relevant competencies (max. 1,500 words, plus referee letter)
a) Are you presently employed?

YesNo
Employer:
b) Have you previously directed an archaeological excavation?

YesNo
c) Please outline when you became eligible to hold an excavation license (if applicable):
d) Please outline details of qualifications, employment or experience which demonstrate your ability to carry out the proposed research. (max. 1,000 words):

0/1000
Please confirm that those key members of the project team have been consulted and confirmed their willingness to be involved in this project.

0/1000
e) Please provide CVs for key members of the project team as proposed, including research partners and specialists.

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Please confirm that those key members of the project team have been consulted and confirmed their willingness to be involved in this project.

Confirmed
g) Please provide the name of the senior supervisor for the project, and list their qualifications
f) Please provide the names and addresses of two competent referees and upload a letter from one of them verifying the applicant’s competency to undertake the research. The letter should be from a referees who is a) independent of the project, b) suitably competent, having the relevant qualifications and experience, to speak to the proposed research, and c) suitably competent, having relevant experience of the applicant’s competency to provide a reference for the applicant. The exception is where an application is made by a PhD student, in which case that reference must be from their supervisor. Please upload a letter of verification from one named referee confirming the applicant’s competence to undertake the research.
Referee One*

First NameLast Name
Address of Referee One

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCounty

Postcode/Eircode
Referee Two*

First NameLast Name
Address of Referee Two

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCounty

Postcode/Eircode
Please upload a letter of verification from one named referee.*

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g) Please outline publication details of the last two excavations you directed, or geophysical surveys carried out (if applicable):

Publication is taken not just to include reports submitted in respect of archaeological excavation licence requirements, but also open access reports, peer reviewed papers as well as general readership articles e.g. Archaeology Ireland and local journals
One
Two
h) Please outline the names of any other unpublished excavations you directed, or for which you were project co-investigator, with reasons for non-publication. The Grants subcommittee is obliged to disqualify an applicant with one or more excavation reports outstanding to the Licensing Authority unless they have agreed a submission date for outstanding licenses and have an official Compliance Letter from NMS agreeing to this. "Publication" here includes the submission of a full final excavation report to the National Monuments Section (DCHLG), or to the Committee.
i) I confirm that I am not ineligible in terms of this application in that I do not have any outstanding statutory reports required under statutory consent/licence either as a site director or as project co-investigator.*

I confirm
j) I consent to the Academy liaising with the National Monuments Service to verify my status in terms of submission of reports deriving from statutory consent/licence.*

I confirm
k) If you have not previously directed excavations, please list the last four you have particpated in, indicating (i) duration of excavation and (ii) position of responsibility held:
Excavation One:
Excavation Two:
Excavation Three:
Excavation Four:
Name and qualifications of senior supervisor
5. Project design (25%)

Criterion: The design, resources and methodologies that are being brought to this project to enable its success, including personnel, skills, equipment, facilities, technologies and materials. Highlight those that are innovative or State of the Art (max. 1,000 words)
a) Describe how the project will be achieved, to best practice. The answer should include but not be limited to the following: the investigative and research methods; a detailed achievable timeframe (ideally in Gantt chart or similar format); the facilities available to the project; the roles of key members of the project team, the research partners and/or specialists involved and what they will be contributing; the aspects of the project that are State of the Art in particular the use of cutting edge developments in archaeology, including new scientific techniques (max 1000 words).*

0/1000
b) Please upload any images (jpg, PDF format etc.) or documents supporting this answer, including programme, confirmation of proposed contribution from research partners/specialists/conservator, confirmation of facilities provided by a host organisation.

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I confirm that all experts listed above have been contacted and confirm their willingness to be involved in this project, if required*

Yes
c) Outline the expected outputs from the proposed season of work (Max 500 words)*

0/500
6. Dissemination (20%)

Criterion: Evidence of plan for impactful and relevant dissemination (max. 750 words).
A strategic goal of the RIA is to ‘represent Ireland by engaging and leading in activities that strengthen international recognition of the Academy’s scholarship’. The Grants subcommittee will wish to see an ambitious plan for dissemination, appropriate to the scale of the research project. As this scheme is publicly funded, please ensure that your plans include making the results of proposed research publicly available. We encourage open access publication.
a) What are your plans for dissemination including but not limited to community engagement, conference papers and publications? Highlight innovative formats and platforms. *

0/750
7. Costings
Cost of work (previously and in the future):
a) Please outline the cost of the work carried out to-date:
b) Please outline the expected completion costs (including season applied for):
c) Please state details of other funding applied for:
d) Estimated costs requested for season of current application*
Please download and fill in this template that will help provide a detailed breakdown of estimated expenses. Where possible, please indicate the likely duration of the excavation and number of participants. Once you've completed this template please save and attach updated version below.
Estimated Costings template*

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Where specialist expertise is anticipated as part of your project, please ensure that a detailed quotation from the intended specialist or specialists are uploaded.

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8. Diversity and inclusion monitoring (optional)
The Royal Irish Academy is committed to supporting excellence in science, humanities and social sciences and empowering the next generation of researchers and scholars. It strives for a culture of equality and inclusion in all of its activities. To ensure we continue to uphold these values in a meaningful way, and to identify areas for improvement, we believe it is essential to gather reliable data on our applicants.

We therefore kindly ask you to complete the following form, which addresses the nine protected characteristics under Irish equality legislation (Equal Status Acts 2000–2018). While we are also committed to the principles of Northern Ireland’s equality laws, this questionnaire does not include questions on political opinion, which is also a protected characteristic in Northern Ireland.

The terminology used in this form aligns, where possible, with the standards of the 2021 Census in the Republic of Ireland. All data provided will be securely stored in anonymised, statistical formats, with access restricted to authorised personnel. Your input in this monitoring is voluntary, anonymised, and used solely for statistical - not evaluative - purposes. For more information about our data protection practices, please contact us at dataprotection@ria.ie.

Your input is greatly appreciated and will help the Royal Irish Academy to assess and monitor diversity, ensuring we continue to foster an inclusive community of researchers.
a) Please select your age category

Under 3030-3536-4546-5556-6566-70Over 70
b) Which of the following best describes your gender

FemaleMaleNon-binaryTransgenderPrefer not to sayOther
c) Which of the following best describes your ethnic group/background

White IrishBlack IrishAsian or Asian IrishWhite non-IrishBlack non-IrishIrish Traveller or RomaPrefer not to sayOther
d) Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation

HeterosexualBisexualHomosexualPrefer not to sayOther
e) What is your religion?

NoneRoman CatholicChurch of IrelandIslamOrthodox ChristianPresbyterianPrefer not to sayOther
f) What is your marital status? Please select all that apply.

Single (never married or in a civil partnership)Married (first marriage)Re-marriedIn a registered civil partnershipSeparatedDivorcedWidowedPrefer not to sayOther
g) What is your family status? Please select all that apply

A parent of a person under 18 years of ageA resident primary carerA parent of a person with a disabilityPrefer not to sayNone of the aboveOther
h) Do you have a disability? Please select all that apply.

Blindness or vision impairmentDeafness or hearing impairmentA difficulty with basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carryingAn intellectual disabilityA difficulty with learning, remembering or concentratingA psychological or emotional condition or a mental health issueA difficulty with pain, breathing or any other chronic illness or conditionPrefer not to sayNone of the aboveOther
I agree to abide by all the grant conditions specified in the Guidelines for applicants:*

I Agree
9. Declarations
Click to read the RIA Grants scheme privacy notice
Data Protection: To enable us to process your application please indicate that you have read and consent to the RIA Grants Scheme Privacy notice.*

I Agree
Should be Empty:

1. Project overview

2. Applicant details

3. Project rationale (30%)

4. Employment and experience (25%)

5. Project design (25%)

6. Dissemination (20%)

7. Costings

8. Diversity and inclusion monitoring (optional)

9. Declarations