The land market was solid in Co Galway last year – supply of farmland for sale was up a little, prices rose a bit too.

We examined 227 farms and parcels that were offered for sale, up from 213 the year before.

As usual, these varied from very good pasture and tillage land, to hill and mountain land, rough grazing land and planting land, with a share of forestry, commonage and bog in the mix.

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We did our calculations on 48 farms that had sold by year end.

The average price was €9,780/ac, up by €275/ac, or 3% from the €9,505/ac of the year before. Selling prices were in the range of €2,500/ac to €28,571/ac.

Demand for land remains solid.

There are plenty of buyers, including dairy farmers, part-time drystock farmers and business people who are not actively farming.

Good land in the east of the county is now making €10,000/ac to €12,000/ac.

Galway city is vibrant and that is pulling up prices of farmland in its hinterland to €12,000/ac and more.

Sheehy Meares Real Estate sold a fine 101ac farm at Creggaun in one lot by private treaty, fetching approximately €13,000/ac.

A small parcel that the firm sold by private treaty in east Galway made the top price of over €28,000/ac.

Prime properties

Adrian Burke Auctioneers was active, selling a number of prime properties at well over €10,000/ac.

Joe Naughton, Martin Tyrrell, APP Kirrane and Pat Burke Auctioneers all conducted successful land sales at good prices.

Connaughton Auctioneers and DNG Connaughton were likewise very active.

Most land sales in the county are by private treaty. However, Wilsons Auctions had a half dozen successful land auctions.