REVEALED: Tipperary among the best counties to start a farm in

A new study has revealed Cork, Galway, Mayo, Wexford and Roscommon are the best counties in Ireland to start a farm, with Tipperary ranking sixth on the list.

The research, conducted by Calor Gas, analysed each county's suitability to start a farm across a range of data points including, availability of agricultural land to buy and the average hours of sunlight each county gets each year.

Each data point was given a weighted score out of 100 and the counties ranked out of a total score of 500.

Tipperary was ranked sixth on the list, with an index score of 248 out of 500.

Cork was ranked as the best county to start a farm with an index score of 359 out of 500.

With 128 listings of agricultural land currently on the market and over €195 million paid to farms in government grants and schemes in 2023, the Cork agriculture sector appears to be growing.

Co Galway, with an index score of 351, came in second in the rankings. With an abundance of available land on the market (6,700 acres), and 165 individual listings, farmers would be spoilt for choice on where to set up shop.

Rounding out the top three was Mayo, scoring 285 out of 500 in the index rankings.

Farms in the county received over €135 million in government grants last year, while the county also has the greatest number of land listings available on the market with 169.