Land prices fell in Co Westmeath last year.

The average price was €13,107/ac, down by 9% which equates to a decrease of €1,310/ac.

Slightly more land was offered for sale.

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We examined 103 farms and parcels which is the exact same number as last year, but 2025 sales covered a total of 5,020ac of land compared to 4,397ac in 2024.

Calculations were carried out on 55 holdings that sold by year end. Selling prices ranged from €3,391/ac to €32,429/ac.

All categories of buyers are active in the county led by part-time farmers – mostly in suckling and beef – as well as non-farmers and dairy farmers.

Nice land in Westmeath is now fetching €11,000ac to €13,000/ac. Land close to Athlone or near the motorway routes is fetching up to €15,000/ac.

Sand and gravel quarry

One of the largest farms sold last year was 327ac at Annascannon, Killucan, which incorporated a sand and gravel quarry and an inert waste facility, with the balance of the land in pasture. It was sold in lots, at auction, by joint agents James L Murtagh and REA Thomas Potterton for €7.96m.

Lot one was the quarry. Lots two and three were farmland and these sold for €12,300/ac and €10,185/ac respectively.

A 38ac holding at Macetown, Mullingar made €482,000, or €12,685/ac, when auctioned by Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt & Davitt. This property was on a cul-de-sac, 8km from Mullingar.

A 13ac parcel with a derelict rectory and a derelict gate lodge at Rathcore was sold at auction by REA Thomas Potterton, making €470,000. Murtagh Bros sold a number of holdings by private treaty for €12,000/ac to €15,000/ac.