As always, it was a busy, busy year in the Meath land market. Farmland changed hands at prices ranging from €4,800/ac all the way up to €50,278/ac – with both of those parcels bought by farmers. By year-end, supply of land had fallen quite sharply but average selling price had jumped.

The number of farms put on the market was 43, down from 49 farms in 2020. But, the farms offered for sale last year were smaller. The total area was therefore just 1,861ac, about half of the 3,457ac offered in 2020.

Twenty-nine of the 43 farms offered for sale had sold by year-end, a success rate in line with the national average.

Average price ended up at €18,721/ac, well up on the €12,614/ac of the previous year. Size made a difference. The 27 holdings of under 40ac made €19,333/ac. The 16 farms of over 40ac averaged €17,100/ac.

Clearly, Co Meath landowners like to have a sale over and done with quickly. Twenty-seven holdings were offered at auction, only 16 by private treaty.

The highest price of €50,278/ac was achieved at the auction by Coonan Property of 18ac at Batterstown. Sherry Fitzgerald Royal got €50,000/ac at auction for 22ac, also at Batterstown. The lowest price of €4,800/ac was for a small parcel of forestry planting land.

Mid-sized holdings sold very well. REA TE Potterton sold 39ac at Rathmolyon at auction for €21,923/ac and 31ac at Gernonstown at auction for €22,581/ac.

Once again, the business buyer dominated the land market in Meath last year. This is not surprising giving proximity to Dublin. The group includes investors, business owners and farmers with substantial off-farm income. They bought well over half (57%) of holdings sold.

Dairy farmers were the next most active buyers taking 17%, with the remainder divided between beef, tillage and other. The latter category includes equestrian operations.