The supply of farmland for sale in Wicklow dropped sharply in 2021, for the second year in a row. However, prices rose strongly.

Just 11 farms were offered for sale, down from 18 in 2020. The total area involved was 445ac, little more than half of the 796ac of 2020. It’s not clear why this drop in farmland for sale has taken place.

Three of the holdings were residential, seven were under 40ac and just four were over 40ac. Just four of the holdings were offered by public auction, the remaining seven by private treaty.

Ten of the 11 farms were sold by year end, indicating strong demand in the county for farmland.

Average price was €12,279/ac, up from €9,879/ac in 2020. The increase was €2,400/ac or 24%.

There was a spread in prices. The highest price was €24,324/ac for a mid-sized holding in west Wicklow. It was sold by private treaty so no other details can be revealed. The lowest price was €5,000/ac for 36ac of forestry planting land at Ballymaghroe, Knockanna, which was sold at auction by Quinn Property. This was south-facing land with some traditional farm buildings.

Auctioneers O’Neil & Flanagan based in Aughrim had a good sale of 31ac at Ballinabarney, Rathdrum, fetching €11,484/ac at auction. Quinn Property got €11,890/ac at auction for a large holding of 82ac at Crafield, Aughrim.

Business buyers have dominated the Wicklow land market in recent years and that trend continued. They bought over half (56%) of holdings sold. The other holdings were shared between farmers in tillage, and mixed enterprises.