You just never know until the day. That’s the message from last week’s auction in Co Laois, when a small parcel of average-quality land generated an exciting finish while also taking top dollar, despite all the odds.

Auctioneer John Hennessy, Stradbally, had to ask the hotel for a bigger room to accommodate the huge crowd that turned up to the auction of a 16-acre residential parcel of land situated in Clonad, Portlaoise, Co Laois. Such was the passing interest that proceedings had to be moved to a 100-seater room – a move that certainly paid off when the entire property went on to average over €24,100/acre in two lots.

Location was the key driver to this property – just one minute from the N7 interchange and two minutes from Portlaoise, while also being adjacent to Togher Wood.

The land itself was in need of reclamation, while the single-storey house was in need of extensive repair.

Before the huge attendance, the first lot comprising the residence on four acres went on the market at €120,000 and later sold to an adjoining landowner for €170,000. It’s understood that he bought it for his son.

However, it was the second lot, namely 12 acres, that generated the real excitement. It went on the market at €100,000 and after a hair-raising battle between a local auctioneer acting in-trust and a local farmer, the sale price jumped to €150,000, well ahead of the asking price.

With that, Hennessy was just about to drop the hammer at €150,000 when a hand from the back of the room went up – that of a local businessman/farmer.

Around the same time, the local farmer decided to take a back seat but the heated battle continued, this time between the local auctioneer and the businessman.

Neither willing to concede, the sale price shot past the €200,000 mark and was later knocked down at €216,000 to the local businessman/farmer. This works out at exactly €18,000/acre, which represents an extremely strong price for land of average quality.

The entire 16 acres came to a combined total of €386,000 or €24,100/acre, which completely surpassed the agent’s expectations.

€11,000/acre in Ballyroan

Elsewhere, auctioneer John Hennessy, Stradbally, took an opening bid of €250,000 at last week’s auction of a 35-acre parcel situated in Dooary, Ballyroan, Co Laois. With just two bidders in contention, the sale price jumped to €325,000, at which stage Hennessy declared the property on the market. But things didn’t stop there and it took another €60,000 before the hammer finally fell at €385,000, or exactly €11,000/acre, to an agent believed to be acting for a local businessman. The underbidder was a local farmer. The land, which is described as “medium quality”, was within walking distance of Ballyroan village and was situated beside the GAA club. Meanwhile, Hennessy is also handling the sale of a 38-acre parcel of grazing ground situated in Ballymanus, Stradbally on 15 May.

Three acres NEAR Tinahely average €25,000/acre

A three-acre parcel of land situated on the outskirts of Tinahely sold for exactly €25,000/acre at auction last week. The property, which attracted four active bidders, is close to the local school and possibly has future long-term development potential. Auctioneer David Quinn, Carnew and Gorey, opened the bidding at €40,000, which steadily jumped to €70,000, at which stage the land was declared on the market. Another €5,000 saw the hammer drop at €75,000 to the local Church of Ireland. The underbidders included a farmer and two parties with development interests.

38 acres at Clonroe and Monalee

Elsewhere, the selling spree continued for Quinn last week, when he offered 38 acres for sale in two lots situared in Clonroe and Monalee, Gorey, Co Wexford. The first lot of 15 acres situated in Clonroe opened at €80,000 and with three bidders in contention, the property was soon put on the market at €130,000.

Another €5,000 saw the hammer fall at €135,000 (€9,000/acre) to a dairy farmer residing about three miles away. A further 1.5 miles away was the second parcel, comprising 23 acres of upland grazing situated in Monalee, Gorey. After opening at €100,000, this went to the market at €160,000 and was soon knocked down at €162,000 (€7,000/acre) to a dairy/suckler farmer living five miles away. There were three bidders for this lot too. Neither lot came with independent road frontage.

15 acres near Bunclody

The same agent also offered a 15.5-acre residential parcel of land situated in Bolinrush, Buncoldy, Co Wexford, for sale in two lots by auction last week. The first lot, comprising the house on 1.5 acres, was bid to €30,000, while the remaining 14 acres peaked at €100,000. With that, the entire opened at €150,000 and steadily progressed to €180,000. With no further movement, the land was declared on the market and sold at €180,000 (€11,600/acre) to an adjoining farmer.

Sale agreed in Kilkenny

It’s understood that an 11-acre parcel of grazing land situated in Ballyshane, Inistioge, Co Kilkenny, sold after last week’s public auction.

The property was withdrawn on the day by selling agent Joe Coogan, Castlecomer, but a local landowner approached the agent afterwards and agreed a deal for an undisclosed figure.

The property was guided at €68,000 prior to auction.

Elsewhere, the same agent withdrew a 21-acre parcel of land located in Doonane Hill, Fairymount, The Swan, Co Laois, at €100,000. Negotiations ensued afterwards with the highest bidder and a deal was struck for a figure believed to be in the region of the €7,000/acre guide price.

The land is described as “good grazing ground” and was approached by a cul de sac.

Kerry farm averages €14,800/acre

Auctioneer Tom Dennehy from William Dennehy & Co, Killarney, sold a 44.5-acre farm situated in Ballyhar, Killarney, Co Kerry, in two lots for a combined total of €660,000. Land in the Killarney region has commanded some exorbitant prices over the past couple of years and the Ballyhar farm was no different, attracting a full house at the Royal Hotel, Killarney, and plenty of local farmer interest. In essence, Ballyhar was a farm of two halves. It featured 17.5 acres, described as “top quality land” and 26.9 acres of mixed land that had been neglected and partly overgrown.

The interesting part is that the 26.9 acres went on to make a notably strong price, despite its lesser quality. On the day, the first lot comprising 17.5 acres of “top quality land” was knocked down at €300,000 or €17,100/acre. This lot included a three-bay hasyshed, a cubicle shed, silage pit and other outoffices. The bigger lot of 26.9 acres of mixed land sold under the hammer for €360,000 or an average of €13,300/acre. Both lots were bought by local farmers.

Monaghan land bid to €304,000

Described as “top quality grazing ground”, a 38.69-acre parcel of land situated in Annaneese, Ballybay, Co Monaghan, was withdrawn at €304,000 at last week’s public auction. However, negotiations ensued afterwards and a deal was agreed at an undisclosed higher figure. It’s believed the buyer was a local dairy farmer. One of the underbidders was a dry stock farmer. Renowned for its fattening abilities, the land came with extensive road frontage and had been well managed down through the years. Auctioneer Philip Ward, Drumlane, Tullynahinera, Castleblayney, handled the sale.

Wexford parcel makes €8,600/acre

It’s understood that a 17.7-acre parcel of land situated in Tinnacarrig, Newbawn, Co Wexford, sold under the hammer for €153,000 at last week’s public auction. It was initially offered in two lots, but the entire outperformed the lots on the day. Described as “good quality grazing”, the land was slightly elevated and guided at €8,500/acre prior to auction. Kehoe & Associates, Wexford, handled the sale.

Offaly farm bid to €765,000 in lots

Although auctioneer John Mollin, Tullamore, offered a 93.6-acre farm situated at Coolagh, Geashill, Co Offaly, in two separate lots, it was the entire that generated the most on the day.

The first lot comprising 36.9 acres was bid to €300,000, while the house and yard standing on 56.6 acres peaked at €465,000. This gave a combined total of €765,000. Failing short of the reserve, the agent withdrew each lot and entered talks with the highest bidders.

Following negotiations, a deal was struck for the entire at an undisclosed price believed to be close to the reserve. The buyer is thought to be a farmer living six miles away.

With the exception of 17 acres tillage, the land is reported to be “good quality grazing”. Situated on the Laois/Offaly border, it came with a modern three-bedroom bungalow and two round roof sheds with lean-to. The property was guided at €900,000 prior to auction.

Kerry 72-acre farm goes in lots

A 72-acre farm situated in Gortbreagoge, Annascaul, Co Kerry, was offered in three separate lots at last week’s public auction. The first lot, comprising 20 acres, was snapped up by a local farmer for €125,000. The derelict house on 2.5 acres was withdrawn at €45,000, but sold afterwards for a higher figure believed to be to a family relative.

Although withdrawn at auction at €280,000, the biggest lot comprising 49.5 acres later sold in a private deal to a local dairy farmer.

This lot came with circa 10 acres of bog. Fitzgerald Auctioneers, Dingle, handled the sale.

€12,700/acre for Kilkenny parcel

Auctioneer Pat Gannon, Kilkenny, put a 27.5-acre piece of ground situated at Higginstown, Kilderry, Co Kilkenny, on the market at €300,000 at last week’s public auction.

Described as “summer grazing ground”, the property was situated four miles from Kilkenny and attracted three customers on the day.

Another €50,000 saw the hammer fall at €350,000 to a local farmer. The underbidder was a businessman. This works out at €12,700/acre.

Dairy farmer pays €15,300/acre

A compact 30-acre holding with a farmyard sold under the hammer last week for €460,000. The property, with an address at Munny, Carnew, Gorey, Co Wexford, came to the market with a range of outbuildings that included a five-bay slatted shed.

On the day, auctioneer Denis Howell from Warren Estates, Gorey, opened the bidding at €320,000 and with three customers in contention, put the property on the market at €440,000.

Another €20,000 secured the sale at €460,000 (€15,300/acre) to a local dairy farmer.

50-acre farm sells after auction

The following day, Howell offered a 50-acre residential holding situated in Ballyart, Ballygarrett, Gorey, Co Wexford, for sale in two separate lots initially. The first lot, comprising a 13.75-acre field, attracted minimal interest, while the derelict house and yard standing on 36.75 acres was bid to €250,000. With that, one bid of €370,000 was taken on the entire. After consultation with the vendor, the auctioneer withdrew the property at €370,000, but subsequently entered negotiations with the highest bidder. It’s understood a deal was agreed later that evening at an undisclosed higher figure. The entire was guided at €350,000 to €400,000 prior to auction.

The buyer is a dairy farmer from the Ballygarrett area.

Three out of three

Auctioneer James Kilcoyne, Ballaghaderreen, sold a 24.35-acre parcel of land situated in Sawnagh and Shanvally, Portumna, Co Galway, in three separate lots for a combined total of €189,000. The real jewel in the crown was the cottage residence standing on 8.6 acres of what is described as “very good quality land”, which went on to fetch almost €12,800/acre or €110,000. This was bought in-trust by a solicitor, who was believed to be acting for a local farmer. A further 8.47 acres of “average land” was knocked down at €50,000 to a local, while the remaining 7.26 acres of “poor ground” sold for €29,000 to a local landowner.

Over €500,000 for Roscommon farm

A circa 123-acre farm situated in Glen and Tully, Kilglass, Rooskey, Co Roscommon, made over €500,000 at last week’s public auction. The land, which featured a mix of good grazing combined with forestry-type ground, generated a lot of interest prior to auction.

It’s believed the forestry-type ground attracted inquiries from as far away as Wicklow, Tipperary, Wexford and Cork.

On the day, joint agents Paul Lafferty from James Cleary & Sons, Castlerea, and Tom Cox from Cox & Co, Strokestown, took an opening bid of €150,000 for the first lot comprising 63 acres.

This attracted seven different bidders, but was eventually bought in-trust by an agent for €288,000 (almost €4,600/acre).

The next lot featured circa 60 acres that extended down to a lake giving expansive views. It also came with the remains of an old dwelling and an acre of bog. This lot went on the market and sold at €200,000 (€3,300/acre) to a person from Co Westmeath.

The final circa 1.6 acres, situated across the road and with possible site potential, was withdrawn at auction at €13,000, but sold afterwards for a higher figure to a local person.

Meanwhile, on the back of repeated requests from interested parties, the agent offered a David Brown tractor for sale, belonging to the same estate.

It’s understood the tractor hadn’t been housed for a number of years and the basic shell remained.

Despite this, it generated calls from all over the country and was knocked down at €60 to a local person. It just goes to show – there is a buyer for everything.