More land for sale and it fetched higher prices – that summarises the market in Monaghan. Twenty-six farms and holdings were put up for sale compared with 20 the previous year. They totalled 1,005ac, up from just 562ac.

The higher supply met good demand. Average price was €12,670/ac, up from €10,275/ac. That was an increase of 23% or €2,394/ac.

The lowest sale price was €2,000/ac for an 11ac parcel, while the highest price was €22,857/ac for 14ac parcel, both sold by private treaty. However, the majority of the 24 holdings sold were within a tight price range of €12,000/ac to €14,000/ac.

Eighteen farms were under 40ac and averaged €12,984/ac on sale. Six were in the range of 40ac to 99ac and the remaining two were over 100ac. These larger farms averaged €11,907/ac on sale.

Private treaty is the preferred method of sale in Monaghan and the option chosen for 23 of the 26 farms put on sale. Just three were brought to auction. O’Reilly, Taylor & Tweedy successfully auctioned 56ac near Clones for €870,000.

Among the larger holdings offered by private treaty were 63ac near Smithsboro from Crosbie & Graham and 35.55ac at Rockcorry from Larmer Auctioneers. Sherry Fitzgerald offered the impressive Glynch House on 81.8ac at Newbliss, also by private treaty.

The business category was dominant, which is the new norm in Monaghan, followed by dairy farmer buyers.

Average: €12,670

% change on 2021: 23

Acres offered: 1,006

Total number of farms: 26

Price range: €2,000 to €22,857

Most active buyers: business

Weighted average: €12,058

Number of transactions: 24