Westmeath was among a number of counties where the land market performed at a steady pace throughout 2016. Carlow, Cork, Kilkenny, Galway, Longford, Mayo, Meath and Sligo were also steady performers.

The average price paid for land in Westmeath last year was €7,536/acre, which was up slightly (2%) on the 2015 average of €7,381/acre, while a buoyant level of activity saw 32 completed sales.

Supply on the other fell by 10.6%. A total of 67 farms incorporating 3,199 acres were offered for sale last year, down from 3,577 acres in 2015.

Prices ranged from €1,850/acre for a 143.25-acre mixed-quality farm that contained a commercial plantation situated near Streamstown to a top price of €11,500/acre for a nice farm in the Moate area. Of the 25 farms that went to auction, 13 successfully sold under the hammer. These included a 39-acre parcel at Balrath North, Delvin, which made €355,000 or €9,100/acre; a 48-acre residential package at Mullagh, Coole, sold for €442,000 or €9,200/acre; a 40-acre block at Bigwood, Castlepollard, sold for €259,000 or €6,400/acre, while a 27-acre parcel at Newcastle, Meedin, fetched €280,000 or €10,300/acre.

Some of the bigger farms that sold include a 108-acre residential package situated at Kilpatrick House, Collinstown, that sold for €935,000 or €8,600/acre; a 92-acre farm at Mayne, Coole, was knocked down at €520,000 or €5,600/acre, while a 227-acre grazing farm at Derrynagarragh, Collinstown, made €1.3m or €5,700/acre.

Other sales included €6,700/acre for land near Tyrrellspass; €11,400/acre for a really attractive holding near Kinnegad; a 65-acre farm at Brownstown, Delvin, made €365,000 or €5,600/acre; €9,200/acre for a small parcel near Killucan and €10,000/acre for a small block situated on the edge of a village.

The majority of land that sold in Westmeath last year made from €5,000 to €9,000/acre.