Land prices were stable in Wicklow last year. The average price was €14,841/ac, down by 1.6% on 2022. There was no increase in supply.

While our survey looked at 2,237ac that were placed on sale – up from 1,669ac in 2022 – this included one upland holding of 1,520ac which didn’t sell.

This meant we based our calculations on 13 farms which met our criteria and sold by year end.

The going rate for nice land in the south and west of Wicklow is €12,000/ac to €16,000/ac but in east Wicklow, approaching Dublin city, it’s €15,000/ac to €20,000/ac and more.

The dominant categories of buyer last year were investors, part-time farmers, and suckler/beef farmers.

Smaller holdings

Smaller holdings fetched higher prices. Parcels under 40ac averaged €15,610/ac on sale, while larger holdings averaged €13,109/ac.

A small number of the farms for sale were offered by auction. Quinn Property sold 67.5ac outside Rathdangan, under the hammer for €615,000, or €9,111/ac.

The same firm offered 31.7ac of nice grassland at Killacloran, Aughrim, at auction. It was withdrawn at €460,000, or €14,511/ac, but after negotiations was sold.

JPM Doyle auctioned 17.5ac of good-quality grassland at Crehelp in west Wicklow. It sold for €310,000, or €17,714/ac.

The largest sale was 170ac at Coolnarrig, Baltinglass – successfully sold by private treaty by REA Dawson.