Results: Meath lands fetch combined total of €1.065M

By Shirley Busteed

Airfield Lodge, Rathkenny, Navan, Co Meath, went under the hammer last week. Offered with 66 acres of grassland, this is a unique parcel of land as it comes with a 650-metre airstrip - something that might be a more common feature on farms in New Zealand. It's understood the previous owner was a keen flyer and constructed the airstrip for personal use.

On the day, selling agent Thomas Potterton, Trim, initially offered the property in two separate lots. After two rounds of bidding, the two-bedroom gate lodge was bid to €185,000 while the 66 acres of land fetched €880,000. This gave a combined total of €1.065 million.

After consultation with the vendors, Thomas declared each lot on the market. With no further bids received, the cottage later sold at €185,000 to a builder from Ballivor, while the land sold at €880,000 (€13,300/acre) to a couple from Co Louth, who are believed to be interested in flying. There was no major interest in the entire.

Let out to a local drystock farmer for a number of years, the land is laid out in three fields with approximately four acres in need of drainage. Situated down a right of way cul de sac, the farm comes with a five-bay hayshed and an office.

The residence is a quaint two-bedroom cottage that was once the gate lodge to Rathkenny house and estate.

Westmeath 100-acre farm unsold at €1.4 million

Selling agent Denis O'Roarke, Moate & Moyvore, is hopeful of concluding a deal for a 40.4-hectare (100-acre) farm situated at Ballincor, Ballymore, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. The property was unsold at last week's public auction and is understood to be under active negotiation at the moment.

Before a small attendance, bidding opened at €1 million and with the help of two keen customers - both of whom were business people with farming interests - the sale price steadily progressed to €1.4 million. With no further movement, the property was later withdrawn and is currently under negotiation.

Leased out for the past 10 years, the land is set out in one block, is currently in grass and although in need of some tidying up, is described as "good decent farmland". Located three miles from Ballymore, the property comes with c.40 metres of frontage to a country road. A guide in the region of €1.5 million had been quoted prior to auction.

Waterford lands fetch €1.5M

Over €24,000/acre changed hands at last week's auction of a 24.6-hectare (61-acre) farm located at Darrigal, Portlaw, Co Waterford. Although there were individual bids for the two lots of 13.2 acres and 47.5 acres respectively, it was the entire that proved the most financially rewarding on the day.

It really boiled down to two main bidders at auction. After initially opening at €700,000, the sale price jumped to €1.2 million, at which stage selling agent Shelley & Purcell, Carrick-on-Suir, declared the property on the market. Things didn't stop there and another €300,000 saw the hammer fall at €1.5 million (€24,590/acre) to two brothers, both of whom were business people from Waterford city. The underbidders were two farmers acting together, one of whom was a professional with land next to the farm.

Set out in one block, the farm is currently under tillage and comprises sloping elevated land. Owned by the Brett family, who are agricultural merchants in south Kilkenny, the property comes with a derelict farmyard and has good road frontage.