The rise in house prices and now building materials has put a new value on farmhouses. So, too, have the steadily rising costs and delays involved in getting planning permission. As a result, there will be plenty of interest in a mid-sized farm currently on the market near Abbeyleix, Co Laois, particularly because it has not one but two houses.
The first is a modern bungalow that’s in great condition. The other is a vacant cottage that could be modernised, extended or replaced, according to the wishes of a new owner.
This c42.962ac holding is at Ballymaddock and it’s being sold by Joe Coogan Auctioneers. It’s going for public auction.
The farm is just outside Abbeyleix, in the direction of Carlow, sitting on the R430 that connects the two towns. The farmhouse is just 2km from the centre of Abbeyleix, while Carlow is 30km the other way. It’s 16km from Portlaoise and about 35km from Kilkenny city. It’s a fine part of the county.
The land is in two divisions. The main block is c30.617ac, with approximately 800m of frontage on to the main road. The farmyard and two houses are here. The second block is c12.345ac and it lies to the rear. A lane runs from the farmyard down to a shared lane, on which the c12ac sits. But the shared lane also gives this c12ac its own access to and from the public road, independent of the farmyard.
The bigger block of land is in permanent pasture and divided into seven fields, each with a water trough. It’s good quality ground. The smaller block is divided into two fields, also in permanent pasture and there is a natural water supply.
The farmyard and two houses are together, sitting over 200m back from the public road. The main farmhouse is a nice, modern bungalow with a bright interior, sitting on an elevated site. It’s 1,377 square feet in area. It has sitting room with stove, a kitchen/dining area/living area, from where double doors open to the back garden. There is also a utility room. There are three bedrooms and one is en-suite. The house has PVC double-glazed windows and oil-fired central heating.
Outside, there is a Tarmac parking area at the front and rear. There is a neat lawn area to the side, while hedging, shrubs and flower beds give privacy.
The small cottage is beside the farm sheds. It has a kitchen-living room, bathroom and bedroom. The yard has a two-bay round-roofed shed with lean-to. There are a number of smaller outbuildings, a cattle holding yard and a cattle crush.
The main shed is set up as a useful workshop with mechanics’ serivce pit, high roof, lighting, windows and wide, high doors at the front which can be locked.
The property will be offered at auction in two lots. Lot one will be the bungalow, cottage and farm shed on 30.617ac. The guide price is €600,000 to €800,000.
Lot two will be the 12.345ac to the rear of Lot one. The guide price is €10,000/ac to €12,000/ac. Lot three will be the entire.
The auction takes place on Friday, 6 October at 3pm in Joe Coogan’s auction room at Ballycomey House, outside Castlecomer.
