The late Pat Conry was a well-known sheep farmer in Ballyhaunis, Co Roscommon. He operated a traditional outdoor lambing system for many years, while also carrying some beef cattle on his 151-acre farm in Moigh Upper, Cloonfad, Ballyhaunis, Co Roscommon. The farm, which is five miles outside Ballyhaunis, is renowned locally and has just been put on the open market.

Described by the selling agent Gerry Coffey as “one of the finest in the west”, the property comes with a cottage residence, some traditional outbuildings and 151 acres of prime fattening land.

It’s understood that Moigh Upper has already begun to generate a nice level of outside interest from as far away as Cork and Limerick, as well as plenty of inquiries from Northern Ireland. It’s suggested that the inquiries from the south are coming from dairy farmers who might consider converting the property into a dairy operation.

Moigh Upper is certainly one of the biggest farms to be offered for sale in the Ballyhaunis region in recent years and is one of seven farms comprising 100 acres or more that have already been brought to the open market in Co Roscommon so far this year.

Split by the Granlahan/Cloonfad road, the property is set out in two blocks, with 75.3 acres located directly across the road from the remaining 76.3 acres. Laid out in big, open fields, some of the land has been professionally sheep-fenced and comes with both a mains and a natural water supply.

Situated close to the historic hill of Kiltullagh, the fields are enclosed by distinctive stone walls and feature extensive road frontage. The residence is a single-storey roadside cottage, with some outbuildings situated close by.

Selling agent Gerry Coffey, Williamstown, Co Galway, is offering the farm in one or three lots that include the house and outbuildings on 75.3 acres, 19.3 acres and 57 acres respectively. The first two lots have a mains water supply, while the third lot of 57 acres extends down to a natural turlough, which can dry up during the summer.

Located 10 miles from Castlerea, the property is expected to generate widespread interest on the build up to the auction over the next four weeks. Given its northerly position and the favourable exchange rate, plenty of interest from parties in the North can be expected. Large farms are rarely placed on the market in Northern Ireland and some farmers are turning to the south to source sizeable units, as evident at a number of auctions earlier this spring.

Moigh Upper is guided at €7,000/acre, or around €1m for the entire. The auction takes place on Friday 28 August at the Hillside Pub, Granlahan, at 4pm.

For a sneak preview, view the video of the farm available on www.gerrycoffey.ie or call 086-385-6050/094-964-3600 for more information.