In 2024, land prices in Co Longford fell to an average of €9,811/ac. While this was a 17% drop on the year before, looking at the bigger picture, it was a return to more normal levels of recent years after the spike in 2023.

More land was offered on the market last year. For our survey, we looked at 56 farms that were offered for sale with a total of 1,778ac – a mix of all types. For those farms sold by year end, prices ranged from €1,800/ac to €18,077/ac.

Currently, typical selling prices for good grassland in the county are in the range of €8,000/ac to €10,000/ac. Parcels with water laid on and good, clean boundaries are at the higher end of that range. An exceptional piece of land for which there are a number of keen customers can make prices approaching €15,000/ac.

Demand is keen with both full-time and part-time farmers buying. Some auctioneers say they have less land than they hoped for on their books because good uptake of the ACRES scheme has locked things up for five years.

Among the notable sales, REMAX sold a 65ac residential farm at Culleentragh, Newtowncashel for €750,000. Auctioneer Cathal Meares valued the house on 1ac – in need of repair – at €100,000 and the land at €650,000. It was a mix of clean pasture and plainer ground in need of improvement.

Eamonn Drake Auctioneers sold a number of parcels which ranged between 10ac to 25ac. Most secured €9,000/ac to €10,000/ac, with choice parcels making more.

Average*: €9,811/ac

% change: -17

Acres offered: 1,778

Total number of farms: 56

Price range: €1,800/ac to €18,077/ac

Most active buyers: Business

Weighted average price: €9,346/ac

*Number of transactions: 22