It was steady as it goes in Roscommon in 2021, with land supply and prices unchanged on the year before.

Thirty-eight farms went on to the market in the county, down from 52 in 2020. However, the farms offered in 2021 were bigger and so the total area for sale was unchanged at 1,656ac.

Only six of the farms were residential. Twenty-five were under 40ac and 13 were over 40ac. Seven were offered at auction, the other 31 by private treaty.

Good demand

Thirty-one of the 38 farms sold, indicating good demand. Average price was €7,968/ac, a small increase on the €7,712/ac of the previous year.

The highest price paid was €19,754/ac. This was made at the auction of 11.39ac at Aghmagree, Kilteevan by Connaughton Auctioneer.

The lowest price made was €1,993/ac. This was paid for a large block of land outside Strokestown, some of it bog, which was sold at auction.

In another auction result, Connaughton Auctioneers sold 70.9ac at Corralea, Curraghboy, getting €6,982/ac.

Business buyers

As has been the case in recent years, business people were the most active buyers of farmland in the county in 2021. This category – which includes investors, business owners and farmers with off-farm income – bought a third (33%) of all farms sold in the county.

Drystock farmers bought a further quarter (25%) of holdings, dairy farmers got just 17% and the balance was divided between mixed-enterprise farmers and sheep farmers.