A circa 13.5ac field at Tintore, Ballacolla, Co Laois sold for €346,000 at public auction on 23 February – this equates to €25,786/ac. Castlecomer auctioneer Joseph Coogan presided over proceedings, where bidding for the prime agricultural land opened at €200,000.

It moved briskly until it reached €325,000, at which point it went on the market before the gavel fell.

Irish Country Living understands that the successful bidder was an auctioneer bidding in trust for a client, while the underbidder was a local dairy farmer.

The sale took place in the auction room at the offices of Joseph Coogan Auctioneer & Valuer at Ballycomey House, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny.

Public auction

At the same venue at 3pm on Friday, 22 March, the auctioneer has a circa 39ac non-residential farm going for public auction.

Located at Tolerton, Ballickmoyler, Co Laois, it is good quality agricultural land that is all in one block. Currently in grass, it is suitable for grazing or hay and silage production.

Five fields

Subdivided into five fields, there is a cattle crush and holding pen on the land. There is also a piped natural water system and a backup supply of well water. There are also a number of dwellings nearby, so there could be site potential, subject to planning.

Approximately 8km from Carlow and 14km from Castlecomer, this farm is situated on the R430 road that links the N79 and N80 roads. It is guided in the region of €12,000 to €15,000/ac.