It was a busy year in Carlow, with good-quality farms put up for sale and – in response – the average selling price rising significantly. Sixteen farms came on to the market comprising a total of 687ac.

Of these, 14 were sold by year end and the average price made was €16,717/ac. This was strongly up from the €13,080/ac of the year before.

A notable trend in the county was a swing to sale by public auction. Thirteen of the farms we analysed were offered by auction, a mix of in person, online and hybrid. Nine sold under the hammer.

Eleven of the farms offered were under 40ac in size. These made an average of €16,984/ac. Four farms were in the size range of 40ac to 99ac and one was over 100ac. These larger farms sold at an average of €15,736/ac.

Business people have been the dominant buyers in the county in recent years, making close to half of all purchases. This broad category includes business owners, investors and farmers with significant off-farm income or savings and they were dominant again in 2022.

Dairy farmers were also active, buying three of the farms that sold. Tillage farmers, usually a strong force in the Carlow land market, were less evident than in previous years.

Among the notable sales, REA Dawson auctioned 27.5ac near Leighlinbridge, with an extensive yard, for €1.15m. Pat Gannon Auctioneers auctioned an 85.25ac holding of grass and tillage at Bagenalstown for €1.573m.

The total value of land sold was €8.4m.

Average: €16,717/ac

% change on 2021: 28

Acres offered: 687

Total number of farms: 16

Price range: €7,027/ac to €41,712/ac

Most active buyers: business

Weighted average: €16,249

Number of transactions: 14