Land Report: huge prices paid for big farms in Co Meath

The land market was on fire in Co Meath last year with very fine properties put up for sale and fetching top prices. Land prices rose to average €17,669/ac.

We examined 97 farms of all types with a total of 4,293ac. We sought selling prices for land suited for general grazing and silage, or tillage.

For farms sold by year-end, prices ranged from €5,862/ac to €31,299/ac. There was a long list of farms that sold for high prices. Coonan Property sold a 139ac non-residential farm at Ballymore, Ratoath for over €3.7m or €26,870/ac. The buyer had business interests.

The same firm sold the 102.4ac Crann Mór farm at Ashbourne, after auction, with the price understood to be €2.3m or €22,460/ac. There was no house but the farm had a very good cattle yard.

Raymond Potterton had some fantastic sales. They got €2.2m or €21,568/ac for a 102ac non-residential farm at Dunderry, Navan. At Dargle House, Kilcarn, they secured €795,000 for 25.4ac with an old farmhouse. And at Meadstown, Dunderry, they got €3.8m or €18,446/ac at auction for 206ac non-residential. €2.25m was the price achieved for 139ac non-residential at Vessington, Athboy, equal to €16,187/ac.

There were plenty of other good sales: Robert B Daly Auctioneers, Sherry Fitzgerald Sherry, JP&M Doyle and Smith Harrington sold choice holdings by private treaty at between €22,000/ac to €25,000/ac. REA Thomas Potterton got €144,000/ac for land outside Trim – we excluded this from our calculations as half was zoned for development. And Keenan Auctioneers sold solid, non-residential holdings at €13,000/ac and €14,000/ac.

Demand for land is strong right across Meath. Prices are the best in the south of the county and near the bigger towns.

Average*: €17,669/ac

% change on 2023: +23%

Acres offered: 4,293

Total number of farms: 97

Price range: €5,862/ac to €31,299/ac

Most active buyers:

Weighted average: €18,889

*Number of transactions: 35