15 auctions that turned heads in the last month

Auctions have been performing extremely well over the last month, with the majority of land sold under the hammer. In total, 63 holdings have been publicly auctioned since the middle of September. Of the results accounted for, over 60% of all auctions were sold under the hammer. A quarter of the farms withdrawn also sold after auction. When all is said and done, over 70% of farms brought to auction over the last month have sold, either under the hammer or privately afterwards.

While Tipperary has seen the two most substantial sales of the last month, with the massive €26,000/ac sale for 110 acres in Cahir and almost €21,000/ac for 75 acres in Thurlesbeg, there have been some impressive sales throughout the country.

Irish Country Living looks at 15 of these sales.

Ballythomas House, Stradbally, Laois

Laois land is a sought-after commodity and the 42 acres of land in Stradbally was no different. Lot four on the day was 42 acres, which was the combination of lot one (31 acres) and lot two (11 acres). It made more than the value of lot one and two combined and finished at an impressive €645,000 or €15,500/ac. In total, this holding was 47.3 acres, with the house on five acres selling for a further €235,000. The total achieved on the day was €880,000 including the first lot.

Greaghlough, Mullagh, Co Cavan

Barry opened the auction at €240,000 or €4,800/ac, with three bidders increasing the price before it was knocked down at €270,000 or €5,400/ac, representing a very reasonable sale. This property itself is an excellent livestock farm and the land here is of very good quality. Presented in good-sized fields, the farm is currently all under permanent pasture. The property contains an old-style, traditional residence. Two-storey, it is a five-bed home located to the front of the farm.

Sedenrath, Kells Co Meath

This non-residential holding opened at €150,000 or €6,800/ac. A competitive round of bidding saw five parties battle until the holding reached €250,000. Used for grazing, the location just off the Slane-Kells road is ideal. It was bought by a young man with farming interests.

Ballyadams, Co Laois

Opening at €180,000, four bidders drove the price to €250,000, at which point it was put on the market. It was knocked at €282,000 and was bought by a local farmer. The farm was laid out in grass. There were seven people in attendance at the auction.

Ballycommon, Tullamore, Co Offaly

This holding was withdrawn from auction and there have been enquiries since, according to Hamill. It is now being offered via private treaty. A nice residential holding, it is laid out in five or six divisions. A good grazing farm, it is located 4km from Ballingar and 13km from Tullamore.

Cloonycolgan Slieve and Corbally, Donamon Co Rosommon

Auctioneers Thomas Cox and Ivan Connaughton had to earn their corn at this auction. Offered in nine lots, with the first lot being the entire, each individual lot was sold under the hammer. With the entire bid to €355,000, the combination of the lots trumped this. The first three lots were good quality, with the highlight being the seven acres at lot four, which sold for €7,000/ac. The final four lots, which were bog, all sold to local people.

Derryconnor, Ballivor, Co Meath

The auction took place at the Johnston Estate Hotel and Spa in Enfield. With a full room of circa 20 people in attendance, three active bidders pushed this farm up from an opening bid of €250,000 to €290,000. This exceeded the guide by €15,000. Laid out in five fields, it contains dual road frontage as well as a derelict house, an old haggard, a haybarn and other outbuildings.

Avoca

Offered in five lots, the first two sold under the hammer and the last two were withdrawn but sold directly afterwards. The first lot, circa 33 acres, opened at €200,000 and sold under the hammer at €285,000 or €8,600/ac. Lot two (51 acres) also opened at €200,000 and sold for €270,000 or €5,300/ac. The third lot (70 acres) and fourth lot (23.5 acres) were withdrawn at €5,000/ac and €4,900/ac respectively and sold afterwards. The fifth lot was the entire.

Ballinahorna, Ballycanew, Gorey, Wexford

A total of 15 bidders battled for the three individual lots offered. The last two lots contained the 56 acres of land. The second lot, consisting of 22 acres, sold for €205,000 or €9,300/ac after opening at €80,000 or €3,600/ac. The third lot (34 acres) opened at €120,000 or €3,500/ac and made huge waves until it reached €295,000 or €8,600/ac. The first lot contained the residence on 3.2 acres and made €202,000.

Mountoliver, Rathdowney Co Laois

A super holding, it was divided into three lots. Lot one, a 52-acre parcel, sold for €745,000 or over €14,300/ac. The second lot of 16 acres went for €185,000 or over €11,000/ac. The final lot consisted of almost 14 acres and this sold for €175,000 or €12,500/ac, which was a super price for a great piece of land.

Deerpark and Portaneena, Glasson, Athlone, Co Westmeath

A highly impressive sale for a county with an average price in 2017 of €7,850/ac. This holding had three strong bidders that pushed the price from an opening bid of €300,000 or €7,150/ac to €410,000 or almost €10,000/ac, at which point it was put on the market. It was sold for €440,000 to a solicitor acting in trust. The farm contains 40 acres of good ground and two acres of bog.

Clooncoose South and Cloonroughan, Castlerea, Co Roscommon

John Earley is a good man to judge land. Guided for €450,000 prior to auction, this farm finished at €465,000 and generated the interest Earley promised it would.

Sold in individual lots (as the lots were making more than the entire), the first lot was the most substantial in terms of money, making €300,000 or €4,800/ac. The other two lots made €100,000 or €7,150/ac and €65,000 or €4,600/ac respectively. There was a residence and yard on the property.

Longraigue, Foulksmills, Co Wexford

This was the first of Carton’s autumn auctions. An opening and closing bid of €200,000 or €9,500/ac bought the holding. The auction was well attended by locals, with the buyer being an adjoining farmer. The farm, which was auctioned at Brandon House Hotel, New Ross, is of reasonable quality and laid out in three divisions in permanent pasture.

Grangebeg, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow

This auction took place in Lawlors Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare. Offered in three lots, including the entire, it sold in the lots, with the second lot of 65 acres achieving €560,000 or €8,600/ac. The second lot of four acres made €100,000 but there was an element of hope value to this. The guide on this farm was a reasonable €10,000/ac.

Davidstown, Calverstown Co Kildare

This 23-acre holding opened at €200,000 or €8,700/ac and generated significant interest from the floor. Four bidders took part, with the price jumping to €315,000 or €13,700/ac before the hammer fell. All in one field, it is currently in tillage. Located circa 1km from Calverstown and 15km from Naas, it is a lovely holding with mature trees surrounding the farm.