For the second consecutive year, Carlow’s average land price exceeded €12,000/ac, having broken this barrier for the first time in almost 10 years in 2017.

The 2018 average was €12,048/ac. This made Carlow the fifth-most expensive county for land sales last year.

Prices ranged from lows of €6,750/ac to highs of €20,000/ac for an outstanding tillage farm in the east of the county.

Supply of land offered here is back a minimal 2%, with 34 farms incorporating over 1,130ac, marginally behind the 1,150ac offered in 2017.

However, the acres sold have risen over 20% from the year previous, with almost 600ac selling in total. Just over 50% of the farms offered in the county sold last year.

Large holdings are traditionally rare in Carlow and this trend continued in 2018. Almost 74% or 21 farms offered were under 40ac, with 20% or seven farms between 40ac and 100ac. Two properties offered last year were over 100ac.

One of the highlights of last year’s property market in Carlow was the sale of Slyguff Lodge near Bagenalstown. The modern period residence on 65ac sold under the hammer at auction for €1.52m in late May to an undisclosed buyer.

Other sales included over 58ac in Coolnakeeran near Old Leighlin, which made €780,000 or over €13,360/ac; 13ac in the northwest of the county which sold privately for €92,000/ac or just over €7,000/ac; and in Tomard near Leighlinbridge, a 126ac tillage farm sold under the hammer in two lots for €2.19m or €17,300/ac.

Agents in the county noted the strong presence of dairy farmers buying land and this is in accordance with our findings.

Almost 50% of land transactions were bought by dairy farmers in the county, followed by tillage (12%), beef (12%) and mixed farmers (12%).

Vital statistics

  • *Average: €12,048/ac
  • Acres offered: 1,131
  • Total number of farms: 34
  • Price range: €6,750/ac- €20,000/ac
  • Most active buyers: Dairy
  • Weighted average: €13,324/ac
  • *Based on 17 transactions

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