Donegal: one of the nicest tillage farms of the year

Supply of farmland for sale was broadly unchanged last year in Donegal.

We examined 90 farms and land parcels that were put up for sale – the same number as the year before.

We eventually did our calculations on 32 farms that had sold by year end.

That was well up on the previous year.

These farms gave us an average price of €7,772/ac, a drop of 2% on the €7,953/ac of 2024. The decrease was just €181/ac.

The change is mostly a reflection of the mix of farms put up for sale and sold last year, as opposed to any change in farming or business patterns in the county.

Smaller holdings and parcels made more money.

Tillage ground

Farms under 40ac averaged €8,861/ac while larger farms, over 40ac, averaged €6,181/ac.

Farmland in Donegal varies widely – from good lowland pasture and tillage ground to hill grazing and mountain, plus standing forestry, planting land and bog.

Our report focuses on land used for general grazing and silage, or for tillage use.

Water frontage

Savills sold one of the finer properties, a 157ac tillage farm at Ballymoney, Burt, by private treaty. This farm was in one block, with road frontage and over 1km of water frontage.

It came with a derelict cottage and very fine views over Lough Swilly. It sold for excess of the €2.75m guide price.

DNG Dorrian sold another large holding by private treaty – 165ac of mixed land at Crove Upper, Carrick. Thirty parties enquired about this farm, some from outside the county.

Anderson Auctioneers and Robinson Auctioneers were also busy last year, with successful private treaty farm sales.