The amount of farmland coming on sale in Laois has fallen in recent years and prices have risen. There was a change in 2021. Our survey included 22 farms which was down from 25 the year before. However, the total area of 1,837ac was over double the previous year’s 723ac.

Seventeen of these farms sold, so demand was good. Average price was €13,984/ac which was again almost identical to the €13,713 of 2020.

Fifteen of the farms on offer were under 40ac, seven were over. Eight were residential. Laois landowners went for auctions last year. Fourteen of the 22 holdings were offered for auction.

Property Partners William Mansfield got €15,484/ac at auction for 21.5ac outside Ballacolla and €13,450/ac at auction for 82.9ac at Ballaghmore. Matt Dunne sold 63ac at Derrylusk by auction for €14,048/ac.

We excluded one notable Laois property from our calculations – the 1,120ac Abbeyleix Estate which made headlines when it was purchased by tech entrepreneur John Collison. The property includes a historic, 27,000 square foot mansion along with landscaped grounds and natural woodland. The purchase price was reported to be close to €20m.

Non-farmers and part-time farmers were the most active in Laois, buying 44% of the holdings sold. The beef category, which in Laois would include finishers as well as suckler farmers, was the next most active, buying 25% of holdings. Dairy and mixed farmers bought the rest.