A number of strong prices ranging from €11,000 to €15,000/acre saw the average price of land in Co Offaly jump by 29% last year. These prices were mostly given for small, excellent quality parcels situated in Killeigh, Geashill and Kilcormac areas.

The average price of land last year was €9,557/acre – well up from the 2015 average of €7,436/acre. Prices ranged from €5,000/acre for a small parcel near Clara that required some attention to a top price of €15,800/acre for a 26.5-acre parcel of top-quality ground at Lackamore, Geashill, that sold under the hammer for €420,000 or €15,800/acre. Seven other farms sold at auction to include a 45.7 acres near Ballingar that sold under the hammer for €425,000 or €9,300/acre; a 71.5-acre residential holding at Ballinakill, Walsh Island, made €360,000 or €5,035/acre; a 17.4-acre parcel at Ballykeane, Geashill, sold for €180,000 or €10,300/acre, while a 79-acre residential farm at Mile Tree House, Birr, was knocked down at €998,000 or €12,600/acre.

There was also a 48-acre block at Clareen, Birr, that sold for €571,500 or €11,900/acre; 9.5 acres at Frankfurt, Kilcormac made €115,000 or €12,100/acre, while a 10.5-acre field at Barnaboy, Kilcormac, was knocked down at €138,000 or €13,100/acre.

Other prices included €5,100/acre for a 60-acre parcel of hilly land; €9,200/acre for a small block near Ferbane; €10,500/acre for a small parcel near Blueball and €8,000/acre for land close to Cadamstown.

The supply of land to the market fell from 2,794 acres in 2015 to 2,160 acres last year, representing a 22.7% fall. Two of the bigger holdings on the market included the 285-acre Milltown Park estate which is believed to have sold in a private deal and a 176.6-acre residential farm at Cloncarbon, Birr, which was brought to the market by private treaty. Of the 28 completed sales, 12 farms made €10,000/acre or more.