Drama again in Tipperary, where big money was handed out for one or two farms targeted by business interests.

Behind the headlines, dairy farmers and part-time farmers were active buyers. Overall, land prices slipped 2% to average €15,388/ac – this is after three years of sharp rises.

We looked at 100 farms on 5,842ac. They were of every land type – we sought selling prices for land used for grazing and silage, or tillage. Selling prices ranged from €6,429/ac to €37,308/ac.

The top price was secured on a non-residential 65ac at Parkville, Clonmel, auctioned in March by PF Quirke.

Four bidders made 47 bids and the edge-of-town property was knocked down at €2.425m – over €37,000/ac. The buyer had Coolmore Stud connections.

On a roll, Pat Quirke auctioned 13.42ac at Munroe, Lisronagh in May, for €410,000 or almost €31,000/ac – meaning another happy vendor. Elsewhere in the county, land was auctioned at prices that looked tamer – but anywhere else they would be considered very good.

REA’s Eoin Dillon sold 45.2ac of non-residential land at Toore, Nenagh for €15,794/ac, to a local farmer. In November, Eoin Dillon also sold 34ac of non-residential land at Ardcroney for €20,407/ac. Thomas V Ryan sold the very pleasant 60ac Kill House farm, near Drom, for €1.85m.

Another notable sale was when Cashel Mart sold 59.3ac at Clonoulty, with a farmhouse, by private treaty. The guide was €1m but the sale price was significantly higher.

REA John Lee, Michael Barry, GVM, PJ Broderick – all had private treaty sales between €15,000/ac and €21,000/ac.

Plainer parcels of land sold between €5,000/ac and €10,000/ac. Dairy farmers were the most active buyers followed by part-time farmers as well as those with equestrian and business interests.

Vital statistics

Average*: €15,388/ac

% change on 2023: -2%

Acres offered: 5,842

Total number of farms: 100

Price range: €6,429/ac to €37,308/ac

Most active buyers: Dairy

Weighted average: €15,202

*Number of transactions: 31