It was, as always, a busy year for land sales in Co Meath with supply up but prices down. Sixty farms were offered for sale, well up from the 43 of the year before. The total area on offer was 3,489ac, up from 1,861ac.

Average price was €14,868/ac. It’s a very healthy price but well down from the record €18,721/ac of the previous year. The top price paid in 2022 was €34,118/ac – the previous year it was €50,000/ac.

Twenty-seven of the farms were under 40ac and they averaged €15,950/ac on sale. Twenty-six farms were in the range of 40ac to 99ac and the remaining seven farms were over 100ac. The larger farms averaged €14,746/ac.

Over half (35) of the 60 farms offered on the market were put up for public auction, with 28 going on to sell on the day. In all 49 farms and holdings sold, up from the 29.

Proximity to Dublin means that the business category has been the dominant buyer group in Meath for some years. This trend continued in 2022, with this category taking three quarters of all holdings sold. In second place were dairy farmers followed by tillage, cattle and “other” farmers.

In Co Meath the business category includes farmers who sold land on the edge of expanding towns, for development at high prices and are now looking to reinvest in farmland.

There were a number of notable auction sales. Savills sold the 152ac Primrose Park at Killsalaghan for €4.1m. The firm also sold the 182ac Parkstown House at Ballivor for €3.15m.

Raymond Potterton sold a 130ac holding at Philpotstown, Navan for €2m. REA T&J Gavigan and REA Brophy Farrell jointly sold a 208ac farm at Tubride, Oldcastle at auction for €2.2m. REA TE Potterton sold 82ac at Clonycavan, Ballivor for €1.06m.

Average: €14,868

% change on 2021: -21

Acres offered: 3,489

Total number of farms: 60

Price range: €4,792 to €34,118

Most active buyers: business

Weighted average: €14,746

Number of transactions: 49