The land market was stable in Co Sligo in 2023. The average price was €8,329/ac, down by €82/ac, or 1%.

Our survey examined more land than the year before: 744ac on 56 farms. We based our calculations on 32 holdings that were sold by year end; this figure also up on the previous year.

Size made a difference to price: farms under 40ac averaged €9,119/ac, while holdings over 40ac averaged €5,959/ac.

The top sale price recorded in 2023 was €18,595/ac, higher than that of 2022. This top price was obtained by E&M Scanlon for a property of under 20ac, located on the edge of a town.

DM Auctions sold a 100ac farm at Carrowmore, Geevagh, at auction for €780,000, or €7,800/ac. The same firm sold 20.6ac at Ballinamona by public auction for €220,000, or €10,577/ac.

Going rate

Meanwhile, the going rate for good land in Sligo is €10,000/ac to €12,000/ac with top properties making up to €15,000/ac.

The dominant buyers in Sligo last year were suckler/beef and part-time/business categories, bringing farm money to the table.