With the winter auction season well under way, November has seen some very strong results so far. But in keeping with the overall trend of the land market, inconsistencies are highlighted across the country.

A number of withdrawals have been noted in the midlands, and recently the 125-acre farm at Curraghboy Village in Roscommon was pulled out before auction. Cork has two very strong auctions this month and the sunny southeast continued its fruitful 2018 with a number of competitive sales.

In a general sense, November has been successful so far. Irish Country Living looks at seven good auctions across the country this month.

1. Location: Ballynamona, Kilmuckridge, Gorey, Co Wexford.

Acres: 41 offered (18 acres and a house sold).

Result: Three lots sold under the hammer, one withdrawn.

Selling price: €230,000.

Auctioneer: Niall Slattery, Warren Estates.

Offered in five lots including the entire, eight acres of land sold under the hammer for €110,000, or €13,750/ac, while the house sold for €120,000. The second lot, circa 30 acres, was withdrawn from auction and remains unsold. The eight acres of land that sold included two separate lots of three and five acres respectively. The same buyer bought all three lots.

2. Location: Caherlag, Glounthaune, Co Cork.

Acres: 88 acres.

Result: Withdrawn at €1.32m, or €15,000/ac (sold after).

Selling price: Undisclosed.

Auctioneers: Conor Flynn, Christy Ryan.

This 88-acre farm is a very good-quality holding. Currently laid out in grass, the farm has been rented for the last 20 years. Attracting considerable attention prior to auction, three bidders pursued the property (two dairy farmers and a solicitor acting in trust) after it opened at €900,000, or €10,250/ac. It was Maurice Cahalan, the solicitor acting in trust, who proved successful after the holding was withdrawn at auction at €1.32m, or €15,000. It was guided prior to auction for €14,000/ac.

Ballyhobuck, Glenmore, Co Kilkenny.

3. Location: Ballyhobuck, Glenmore, Co Kilkenny.

Acres: 43.

Result: Sold.

Selling price: €650,000, or €15,100/ac.

Auctioneer: Anne Carton, PN O’Gorman.

The first lot consisting of almost 21 acres opened with an offer of €200,000, or €9,500/ac, and this bid was held. The second lot, of over 22 acres, was offered with an opening bid of €250,000, or €11,360/ac. When the entire was put to the floor at €500,000, or over €11,600/ac, three bidders chased the property – which was then held at €540,000, or over €12,500/ac.

Following a break and a re-offering of each lot, it was the entire that was yielding the highest price. After being re-introduced to the floor, a single bid of €650,000, or €15,100/ac, was made, which secured the lands. The farm was purchased by a Waterford-based auctioneer acting in trust.

The price achieved for this holding demonstrates the strong demand for top-quality land in the area, according to Anne Carton of PN O’Gorman.

Baltrasna, Oldcastle, Co Meath, was offered by Stephen Barry of Raymond Potterton.

Baltrasna, Oldcastle, Co Meath, was offered by Stephen Barry of Raymond Potterton.

4. Location: Baltrasna, Oldcastle Co Meath.

Acres: 38.

Result: Sold.

Selling price: €275,000, or over €7,300/ac.

Auctioneer: Stephen Barry, Raymond Potterton.

Offered in three lots, the first lot included a house and an acre of ground, which was withdrawn at €97,000. Negotiations still continue for this offering. However, lot two and three did sell. The second lot, 28 acres of good grazing ground, sold for €180,000, or under €6,500/ac, to a dairy farmer after opening at €150,000, or over €5,300/ac.

The third lot, a parcel of just over nine acres, opened at €70,000, or €7,500/ac. After holding at €80,000, or €8,600/ac, and being re-offered to the floor, it flew to €95,000, or €10,200/ac. It sold to a beef farmer.

5. Location: Coolnakeeran, Old Leighlin, Co Carlow.

Acres: 58.

Result: Sold.

Selling price: €780,000, or €13,500/ac.

Auctioneer: John Dawson, REA Dawson Tullow.

Opening at €600,000, or €10,300/ac, this holding had two active bidders. Reaching €780,000, or almost €13,500/ac, it was knocked down by Dawson and sold to a local.

6. Location: Foulksmills, Co Wexford.

Acres: 32 acres.

Result: Lot one sold under the hammer, lot two was withdrawn (sold after).

Selling price: €270,000, or €10,000/ac, for lot one.

Auctioneer: Anne Carton, PN O’Gorman.

Offered in late October, this compact non-residential holding of 32 acres was offered in three lots, including the entire. The first of these was a 27-acre parcel. This lot opened at €250,000, or €9,250/ac, as two bidders pushed the price to €270,000, or €10,000/ac. When Carton returned to this lot, it was placed on the market and held. Lot two was just over five acres and opened at €50,000, or €10,000/ac, and was withdrawn at €70,000, or €13,200/ac. Lot two was sold after negotiations when the auction concluded.

7. Location: Cullionmoe, Mullingar, Co, Westmeath.

Acres: 20.

Result: Withdrawn at €118,000, or €5,900/ac.

Selling price: Undisclosed, believed to be close to guide of €140,000, or €7,000/ac.

Auctioneer: Padraic Murtagh, James L Murtagh.

A manageable package circa 5km from Mullingar sold after auction in early November. Offered by James L Murtagh, the property opened at €80,000, or €4,000/ac, before quickly rising to €118,000, or €5,900/ac, at which point the holding was withdrawn. After brief negotiations, the holding was sold in trust. It is believed a local with business interests bought the land.