A total of 129 farms incorporating 5,133 acres were brought to the market last year – almost identical to 2014 at 5,079 acres.

There was no shortage of large farms either, with no less than 10 properties comprising 100 acres or more brought to the market. Some of these included a 151-acre non-residential farm situated at Moigh Upper, Cloonfad, which sold under the hammer for €1.04m or almost €6,900/acre; a 114-acre residential package at Foxboro, Tulsk, was knocked down at €656,000 or €5,700/acre and a 123-acre residential holding situated at Glen and Tully, Kilglass, made €504,000 or €4,100/acre.

The average price paid for land last year was €5,801/acre – only slightly down on the 2014 average of €5,932/acre. This puts Roscommon fourth in terms of the least-expensive land in the country. It is preceded by Mayo at €5,699/acre, Clare at €5,391/acre and Leitrim at €4,869/acre.

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Prices in Roscommon ranged from €1,700/acre for a small piece of mixed-quality land to a top price of €10,600/acre for land close to Ballyhaunis. Of the 22 farms that went to auction, 13 sold under the hammer. A 65.8-acre non-residential farm situated at Knockaduff sold for €6,700/acre; 29.1 acres near Fourmilehouse made €8,500/acre; a 16.4-acre parcel near Cloverhill averaged €7,100/acre and a 32.6-acre parcel near Rooskey sold for €3,700/acre.

38 acres of a 59-acre non-residential farm situated near Taughmaconnell sold for €270,000 (€7,100/acre), while a 65.5-acre residential farm located at Lisagallon sold for €350,000 (€5,300/acre).

At 5,133 acres, Roscommon was fourth in terms of most land offered for sale and was preceded by Wicklow at 5,510 acres, Tipperary at 5,869 acres and Cork at 7,458 acres.

A comprehensive breakdown of agricultural land prices in each county and is available exclusively inside the Irish Farmers Journal newspaper from Thursday 10 March 2016, as well as online for digital paid subscribers at www.farmersjournal.ie. Don't miss this FREE 72-page guide to agricultural land prices across Ireland!