In 2016, Kildare was kicked off the top spot by Louth and Dublin in terms of the most expensive land in the country. At an average price of €11,925/acre, Kildare is the third most expensive county in which to buy land. It is preceded by Dublin at €12,171/acre and Louth at €12,463/acre.

Average prices in the county were down almost €2,000/acre or 14% on 2015 – a time when Kildare held the position of having the most expensive land in the country at €13,886/acre.

Prices in the county ranged from €5,500/acre for a parcel of land in the Rathangan region to a top price of €23,125/acre for a 16-acre block situated at Courtown Little, Kilcock, Co Kildare, which sold under the hammer for €370,000. Other farms that sold at auction included a 39-acre block located at Ballycahan, Kilcock, which made €625,000 or €16,000/acre; a 24.5-acre residential package near Ballylinan, Athy, made €275,000 or €11,200/acre; a 34-acre residential holding near Sallins, was knocked down at €525,000 or €15,400/acre, while a 47-acre residential unit at Riverstown House, Kildangan, sold for €625,000 or €13,800/acre.

There was also an attractive 53.2-acre block located at Carnalway, Kilcullen, that made €1m or €18,700/acre; a 26.4-acre parcel near Narraghmore, Athy, averaged €16,200/acre or €430,000, while a 55.5-acre residential holding at Castlerheban, Athy, made €395,000 or €7,100/acre.

Three of the bigger farms that sold included a 106-acre residential grazing farm at Halverstown, Kilcullen, which made €890,000 or €8,300/acre; a 114-acre farm located at Rosetown, Athgarvan made €1.56m or €13,600/acre; while a 286-acre residential package at Haggard, Carbury, Co Kildare, was knocked down at €2.15m or €7,500/acre.

In contrast to price, the supply of land to the market jumped by 29.7% to 4,576 acres. This included the 750-acre estate at Harristown, Demesne, Brannockstown, which was guided at €25m and the 338-acre estate at Ladenstown, Sallins, guided at €6.5m.