There is little doubt that the strength of the dairy industry and the tighter supply has driven land prices in Cork in 2017.

An increase of almost 14% on the average price per acre, from €10,053/ac in 2016 to €11,444/ac last year highlighted the increased demand for land in the county.

Prices ranged from €3,467/ac in Kiskeam to a huge €28,000/ac for a magnificent piece of ground near Innishannon. In the main, strong prices were seen throughout the year from the 60 completed sales.

Prices in the rebel county this year included €490,000 or €8,033/ac for a 61ac holding in Toames West near Macroom; 30 acres near Gortaleen, Enniskeane sold for €280,000 or €9,333/acre; a top residential holding towards the south of the county made in the region of €15,000/ac, while 95 acres in Umera near Macroom were withdrawn from auction at €800,000 and was sold for a higher price after.

The largest holding that was on the market in Cork last year was the 298 acres at Graigue Farm, Shanballymore. Guided for €2.5m, the farm has been on the market now for a couple of years.

Once again, Cork supplied the most amount of land to the Irish market in 2017 with 7,134 acres incorporating 155 farms. This is back from 9,317 acres offered the previous year.

One of the features of the year was the high amount of holdings offered by private treaty (145), with just nine auctions in the county over the course of the year. One tender sale was on the market in Cork in the year gone by.

At 60, Cork has the second most transactions in Ireland in 2017. Auctioneers in the county noted dairy farmers as the major buyers last year, with strong demand for both large and small parcels. There were more business people with an interest in farming buying smaller plots close to urban centres evident in 2017.

Vital statistics

  • *Average: €11,444/acre
  • Land offered: 7,134 acres
  • Price range/acre: €3,467 to €28,000
  • No of farms offered: 155
  • Biggest farm offered: 298 acres
  • Weighted average: €10,742/acre
  • *Based on 60 transactions

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