After opening at €200,000, four bidders helped drive the sale price to €370,000, at which stage selling agent Jordan Auctioneers, Newbridge, declared the property on the market. It took a further €40,000 before the hammer finally fell at €410,000 or €13,600/acre, which represents a strong

start to the year for Jordan Auctioneers.

Located halfway between Athy and Carlow, the land is currently in grass but it had been tilled in the past. Reported to be a “lovely dry piece of land”, the property came with an old farmyard and has extensive frontage.

31 acres nears Ballymore Eustace withdrawn

The same agent withdrew 31-acre parcel at Ardenode, Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare, at €310,000 at last week’s public auction. Bidding was a bit slower with just two customers in contention.

It’s understood that private negotiations are ongoing but no deal has been concluded. Laid out in three fields, the land is in permanent pasture and features frontage to the Kilcullen and Dunlavin roads.

Guide is €12,000/acre.

Talks continue for 29 acres in Galway

Keary Auctioneers, Loughrea, offered a 29.8-acre residential holding situated at Castlebin & Skehanagh, New Inn, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, in two separate lots at last week’s public auction. The first lot, comprising circa 20 acres and an old house with hayshed was bid to €100,000 while the remaining circa 9.8 acres of landlocked land fetched €10,000. Both lots were subsequently withdrawn but it’s understood that the agent is close to agreeing a sale on the house and the circa 20 acres. The land is described as “average quality”.

Trophy farm in Co Meath makes €12,200/acre

Auctioneer John Harrington from Smith Harrington, Navan, kicked off his spring season with the successful sale of a 71-acre residential farm at Bellewstown, Navan, Co Meath, last week.

The property came to the market with a 100-year-old two-storey residence in need of refurbishment, a stable yard and a range of buildings. Before a packed room, John opened the bidding at €500,000, which went all the way up to €800,000 with the help of five bidders. After being declared on the market at €800,000, a number of locals and a person from outside the area continued the battle until the farm was finally knocked down at €870,000. This works out at €12,200/acre, which was

reported to be an extremely satisfactory result.

The buyer is believed to be from outside the area but has land in Co Meath.

Situated halfway between Navan and Trim, the land is currently in grass and is reported to be without waste. Joint agent was North’s Property, Dublin.

30 acres near Wilkinstown sells after auction

Elsewhere, Smith Harrington withdrew a 30.4-acre parcel at Coghalstown, Wilkinstown, Navan, Co

Meath, at last week’s public auction but sold it afterwards in a private deal. Currently in grass, the property came with a range of old stables and was bought by a neighbouring farmer for a figure believed to be in excess of €200,000.

25-acre Monaghan farm close to deal

It’s understood that private negotiations are under way for 25 acres at Coolnacart, Scotshouse, Co Monaghan, following last week’s public auction. Accessed from a shared laneway, the property was unsold at the auction but selling agent Michael Smith, Cootehill, is optimistic of concluding a deal in the short term.

Used as an outfarm over the years, the land is currently in grass and needs a little tidying. It’s suggested that land of this quality is making in the region of €6,000/acre in the area.

Louth farm sells before auction

It’s understood that a 30-acre parcel of land at Clogherhead, Co Louth, sold prior to last week’s scheduled auction in a private deal.Sherry Fitzgerald Declan O’Neill, Drogheda, handled the sale.

Galway sale postponed

Elsewhere, last week’s auction of a 29-acre residential holding at Kylemore, Lispheeasty, Laurencetown, Co Galway, was postponed. It’s understood that a later date will be announced. Auctioneer Pat Finn, Ballinasloe, is handling the sale.

Limerick farm sells for €9,600/AC

Around 60 people turned up to last week’s auction of a 57.5-acre residential farm at Churchfield, Foynes, Co Limerick.

The property arrived on the market with a two-storey residence in need of modernisation, a three-bay hayshed, cow house and a range of ancillary buildings. At the auction, Richard Ryan from GVM Kilmallock, opened the bidding at €375,000, which moved in €10,000 increments to €550,000, at which staged a new bidder entered the race.

After consultation with the vendors, the farm was declared on the market at €550,000 and shortly afterwards was sold at €555,000 to a local man. It is believed he was acting on behalf of a person from the Foynes area. This works out at €9,600/acre which, according to Richard Ryan, is in line with the price of good quality land in the midwest region.

Mixed fortunes in Co Sligo

Auctioneer Roger McCarrick from REA McCarrick & Sons, Sligo and Tubbercurry, brought five farms to auction last Friday in Cawley’s Hotel, Tubbercurry. Almost 100 people turned up, comprising a mix of onlookers and potential buyers.

Two of the farms found new owners while the other three were withdrawn. The auction kicked off

with 40 acres at Sessuegilroy, approximately five miles outside Tubbercurry. Described as “fairly good land in need of attention”, this block attracted five bidders and sold in two lots for a total of €205,000, or €5,100/acre. The buyers were both young local professional men who also

farm part-time.

Next up was 19 acres at Rathbarron, Coolaney, which attracted four bidders. Close to Coolaney

village, the land reportedly requires some upgrading but has 300 metres of road frontage. It was purchased by a local for €110,000 (almost €5,800/acre).

Meanwhile, 37 acres in need of upgrading at Rathscanlon, Tubbercurry, was withdrawn at €160,000. A further 54 acres at Rinbane, Ballinacarrow, was unsold at €37,000. This land

was of poor quality and had limited access.

The final lot comprising 14 acres with a derelict cottage at Carrentubber,

Tubbercurry, was bid to €40,000. All three farms were withdrawn at auction but the auctioneer is confident of concluding a deal in the coming weeks.

Roger explained: “These auctions are a good barometer for land prices in Co Sligo. They show that there is still strong demand for good quality land in convenient locations.”

Disused sand pit in Carlow makes €140,000

A disused sandpit, extending to 27.1 acres situated at Ballyraggan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow, sold for €140,000 at last week’s public auction.

The property, which contains a small amount of gravel, needs to be filled in and topsoil applied. It was bought by a local farmer.

A further circa 7.5 acres of wet land, belonging to the same property, was withdrawn at auction and

is now under negotiation. John Dawson, Tullow, is handling the sale.

A 30-acre non-residential parcel near Athy sold for €410,000 last week.