Although average values and the volume of land offered for sale plummeted in Roscommon last year, the level of activity was particularly buoyant, with 52 completed transactions recorded. The average price of land fell by 11%, going from €5,801/acre in 2015 to €5,144/acre last year, which puts Roscommon second to Leitrim (€4,560/acre) in terms of the least expensive land in the country.

Supply also experienced a sharp drop. A total of 100 farms incorporating 3,178 acres went to the market last year. This is well down from the 5,133 acres that were offered for sale in 2015, representing a 38.1% drop.

The majority of farms brought to the market were less than 40 acres. Some of the bigger units included a 127-acre farm at Runnaruag, Elphin, which sold under the hammer for €940,000 or €7,400/acre; a 120-acre residential package at Carrowcrin & Corbo, Kilroosky, was brought to the market by private treaty, while a 136-acre residential farm situated at Kilglass sold after auction in a private deal.

Prices ranged from €2,100/acre for a small parcel suitable for planting near Castlerea to a top price of €10,400/acre for a small residential holding near Tulsk. Only six farms sold under the hammer, including 14.2 acres near Fourmilehouse that made €64,000 or €4,400/acre; a 37-acre residential holding at Kilbarry, Rooskey, sold for €126,000 or €3,400/acre; a 64-acre residential farm in the Fourmilehouse area made €262,000 or €4,000/acre; a 52.8-acre residential farm at Mullymux was knocked down at €435,000 or €8,200/acre; while a 21.6-acre parcel in the Kilroosky area made €91,000 or €4,200/acre.

Other prices included almost €7,000/acre for land in Tulsk; €10,000/acre for land close to Roscommon town; €3,700/acre for land close to Ballaghaderreen; €5,700/acre for 50 acres in the Rahara area and €6,100/acre for a small block in the Boyle area. The majority of land sold made from €3,000/acre to €7,000/acre.