Given the prime location and the excellent quality of the tillage land on offer, last week’s auction of a 101.6-acre non-residential farm situated in Saville, Enniscorthy, may not have completely lived up to expectations. The property, which is situated beside St Senan’s Hospital on the Wexford road, featured circa 21 acres of SAC that run along the River Slaney and circa 80.6 acres of prime tillage land laid out in just two big fields.

Around 25 people turned up to the Riverside Park Hotel for the auction and among them were four separate bidding parties.

Auctioneer John Dawson, Tullow, offered the property in a range of lots and kicked off proceedings with the circa 80.6 acres of tillage ground. After an opening bid of €600,000, this lot eventually arrived at €850,000 and was parked at that.

The next lot, comprising 20.9 acres of SAC, only received a bid of €25,000, while Dawson then took a bid of €900,000 on the entire.

Surprisingly, there was no bid on the two tillage fields when offered individually. These included a 43.76-acre field with fabulous views of Mount Leinster and a 36.89-acre field situated directly across from the first field.

With no movement in either, a recess was called. On his return, the auctioneer invited further offers on all lots.

While there was no further movement on the individual lots, the entire did jump from €900,000 to €950,000.

Falling short of the reserve, the property was withdrawn in its entirety at €950,000 and the auctioneer proceeded to enter negotiations with the highest bidder.

Talks continued over the weekend and significant progress was made. Fresh interest also emerged and, at the time of going to press, it’s understood that a sale was agreed at an undisclosed price.

Auction postponed

Elsewhere, last week’s auction of a 67-acre holding in Balrothery East, Co Dublin, was postponed due to a mapping issue. Surrounding both the M1 south and north service stations, this block of land is zoned agricultural. It’s accessed from the Knightstown road and will go to auction at a future date. Ganly Walters, Dublin, is handling the sale.

31 acres GET €13,200/acre

Selling agent Ed Donohoe, Kilkenny, sold a 31-acre parcel two miles from Gowran for €410,000 at auction. The land, which has frontage onto the main Gowran/Goresbridge road, contains five acres of scrub and is suited to grazing. Brisk bidding from an adjoining farmer and the eventual buyer – a man with an interest in horses – saw the hammer fall at €410,000, or €13,200/acre, well ahead of the €8,000 to €10,000/acre guide price.

Kilkenny land sells prior to auction

It’s understood that a portion of a 48-acre parcel of land situated in Grennan, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, sold prior to last week’s scheduled auction. Selling agent Ed Donohoe, Kilkenny, agreed a sale with a local buyer for 30 acres of the land. Although undisclosed, it’s understood that the property made in excess of the €10,000/acre guide price. The remaining 18 acres did not go to auction, but are now for sale by private treaty. It’s believed that this is currently under offer.

The land, which is situated in the edge of Thomastown, lies adjacent to an area of zoned land and comes with plenty of road frontage.

10-acre DUBLIN field makes excess OF €25,000/acre

A 10.42-acre parcel of land situated in Kilmactalway, Newcastle, Co Dublin, was withdrawn at €260,000 at last week’s public auction. However, post-auction negotiations ensued and a sale was agreed for an undisclosed sum believed to be in excess of €260,000. Situated off the M7 (Dublin/Cork) motorway, the land is in tillage, comes with good road frontage and is described as “excellent fertile ground”. It is presently zoned for warehousing under the South Dublin County Council Development Plan 2010-2016.

The property was guided in the region of €250,000 prior to auction. The buyer is believed to be a local man. Ganly Walters, Dublin, handled the sale.