Two farms, both located around the Athlone area, have come to the market recently. Situated in good drystock country, the two parcels combined encompass over 100 acres and are valued at €1.05m. Handling the sale is auctioneer Ollie Moore of Sherry Fitzgerald and Irish Country Living walked the farms with the auctioneer.

74 acres at over €10,000/acre

The first of the two farms is located in the townland of Brideswell, Co Roscommon, a circa 15-minute drive from Athlone town.

Offered in three lots and the entire, the latter is being guided for just under €800,000, or €10,750/ac. Lot number one in particular is as good as any land parcel in the area and is without question the highlight of the holding in its entire. Not just is it the most comprehensive package in terms of the offering, the lands are also the best quality.

Sitting on 31 acres, the ground here is in good condition. Dry land, it is surrounded by limestone walls, is well fenced and has a mains water supply. Divided into five paddocks, the land is ready to use and is kept in good condition. It has a good depth of topsoil and the lands are well drained. The parcel contains frontage onto the main road and one noticeable feature is the strong sward on the paddocks.

This package also includes farm buildings. Kept in good condition, they include a slatted shed built in the 1980s, which is a four-bay back-to-back, a silage slab and a three-bay hay shed with lean-to (the lean-to is also penned out for livestock use). There is also considerable space in the farmyard, which is ideal for heavy machinery.

There are handling facilities for cattle, including a cattle crush, all in good condition. This lot is guided for €450,000, or over €14,000/ac. While expensive for the area, the land in this lot is of top quality.

The other lots

The second lot is also of good grazing quality, although not as high quality as lot one. Made up of 37 acres, this particular parcel is guided for around about €300,000, or 8,000/ac. This holding grows a nice sward of grass in the spring and summer, according to Moore, but can get heavy in the back end and the winter months. Again, similar to lot one, this lot is well fenced and nicely maintained. It also has main water. It contains good road frontage.

The third lot is a lovely smaller parcel. Five acres in total, it is accessed off a right of way on adjoining land and is less than a kilometre away from lot two. By far the smallest lot, it is well laid out and in good condition. It is offered at €40,000, or just over €7,100/acre.

As already mentioned, the entire is being offered at just under €800,000. The holding has been on the market since last back end and generated quite a bit of local interest from farmers. Offered by private treaty, it is being sold by a local who moved out of the area. It has been farmed by the owner up to the present and has been kept in excellent condition. Moore is confident that a sale will be achieved.

27 acres for €250,000

The second farm that is up for sale is almost 27 acres located in the townland of Ballymore, Co Westmeath, a circa 20-minute drive from Athlone. This property is a good piece of land, ideal for a sheep or beef farmer, according to the auctioneer. Ollie Moore of Sherry Fitzgerald is also handling this sale.

Offered in the entire, the lands are laid out in one block. Divided into three paddocks, the parcel was formerly owned by a businessman. While currently vacant, it is presented in good condition. The entire is guided at €250,000 and like Brideswell in Roscommon, it is offered by private treaty. Just on the market less than fortnight, it is too early to evaluate interest, but Moore is again confident for the package. CL