Wexford land prices continued their upward trend last year, now averaging €12,138/ac which is up 8% on 2018. It is a county that regularly features in the top 10 for average prices.

The number of acres on the market in 2019 was 3,841, an increase of 47% on the year before. However, the number of farms on the market fell by 18%.

In total, eight properties sold in Wexford last year broke the €1m mark; three of those were over €2m. The one property that sold for more than €3m was a 216ac tillage farm at Bolinahaney, Bunclody, which sold at auction in four different lots. One of those lots was 26ac which sold to the local GAA club for €350,000 (€13,460/ac).

Meanwhile, 246ac in Clonegal was bid to €2.5m at auction before it was withdrawn and sold immediately after in excess of that, to a business person and farmer from the south Wicklow area. Another highlight sale was that of 171ac with an old mill near Inch, Gorey, which sold for a total of €2,259,000 at auction in various different lots. Auctions were particularly strong in Wexford, with 17 out of the 27 properties offered to auction sold under the hammer. Of those that were withdrawn, five sold immediately after the auction.

The number of sales valued at €300,000 or more were double that of those below that value. That said, a higher average price was achieved for offerings less than 40ac in size (€13,234/ac). Properties over 40ac averaged €11,107/ac.

Beef, business and dairy buyers were equally active in the Wexford market last year, followed by tillage and sheep.

*Based on 33 transactions