Big farms don’t come to the market in Longford that often. According to the 2018 Land Report, just 3% of farms offered in the county were over 100 acres. For farmers in the locality, when such a block comes on the market, curiosity – if not genuine interest – is high.

For agent John Earley, such interest has been shown in a 107-acre farm near Edgeworthstown.

“The farm is offered at a guide of €700,000, but we have offers and it is on the market at €600,000,” he told Irish Country Living.

“Interest is strong so far in it. It’s rare for this area that farms this size come up so enquiries in it are very good at the moment.”

The property is located across the townlands of Kilcourcey, Cartroncor and Tully, near Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. Encompassing 107 acres in all, circa 77 acres of the land is good quality, with 30 acres in need of work. Earley noted that certain parts of the property are heavier than other, with rushy parts noted in places.

In total, there are circa five fields across the 107 acres so a new owner can subdivide the lands depending on their grazing system

The land is all in one block and is laid out in large divisions. In total, there are circa five fields across the 107 acres so a new owner can subdivide the lands depending on their grazing system.

Earley said that there is internal fencing but the property also benefits from an extensive hedgerow network. The holding is a grazing farm and has been rented on a temporary basis for a number of years.

It is being offered by private treaty and the guide on the farm, as Earley previously noted, is €700,000 or just over €6,500/ac. However, the auctioneer has indicated that a number of bids have been already placed on the farm.

Longford land market

The Longford land market has been tricky over the last 18 months. The average price of land took a hit in the county last year, standing at just under €6,400/ac. This is the fourth lowest in Ireland, just ahead of Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon and is the lowest price ever recorded in the county. Testing circumstances and a tough beef trade was noted as a major reason for this.