Posted online: Jan 11th, 2008

By Paula Burns
paula.burns@kildarepost.com

Agricultural land in Kildare is the most sought after in the country and is also the most valuable, according to a recent survey.

Despite a slodown in the agricultural land market in 2007, one of the most talked about sales in the country was that of The Hollyhill Stud at Brannockstown Naas. The 60 acre land was bought at auction by Sir Anthony O’Reilly for €7.4m despite a starting price of €3m less.

Rathcoffey GAA club have also invested in land in the county. The club purchased an extra 12acres to add to their already 9acres for €1.1million. According to Trustee of the club and Assistant Secretary Eamon Cunningham “location was our main priority when purchasing the land but we were very happy with the price that we did pay”.

The club intends to expand their facilities at their training grounds.

Colm Mc Evoy of Colm Mc Evoy Auctioneers in Naas told the Kildare Post: “You don’t need to be Einstein to see why both agricultural and residential land is so sought after and tends to be more expensive here in Kildare.

We are so close to the capital and with the improvements in infrastructure land particularly in North Kildare remains in demand.”

2006 and 2007 saw a fall nationwide in property prices across the board from agricultural to residential. Mc Evoy says he would be surprised to see property prices drop any further, “We are at the bottom of the hill, but really we have to wait and see what the first 6 months of 2008 bring. That will tell the real story. I am pretty confident that we have seen the worst of it”.