It was a full house in the Jane Room at the Johnston Estate in Enfield, Co Meath, on Thursday 9 July as Stephen Barry of Raymond Potterton Auctioneers brought the hammer down at €12.3m on Newbury Demesne, a 453ac country estate located near Carbury, Co Kildare.

The auction got off to a measured start on the holding, which was guided at €12m.

“We’ve a long way to go and it’s a lovely sunny day”, said the auctioneer after several attempts to start the bidding.

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“We’ll be handing out ice creams at 8 o’clock tonight if it doesn’t get going.”

Aerial view of the yard at Newury Demesne, showing the courtyard and outbuildings.

Bidding finally opened at €10m on the farm and it was a tense two minutes before a second bidder entered the contest. The exchange continued in steady €100,000 increments as the two bidders went head to head, pushing the price to €11.9m.

“Will we say 12?” Barry asked the room. “It’s just a number, €12m. A nice number, but still only a number.”

Recess

At this point, with no further bids, he called a brief recess to consult with the vendor, who is a prominent Co Kildare beef farmer.

“We’re nearly there”, he said when he returned, “but we need a bit of help.”

One of the reception rooms in the Georgian manor, which has been carefully restored by the vendor, a prominent Kildare beef farmer.

This got things moving again, with the same two bidders continuing to contest the farm. Reaching €12.3m, the price held for several minutes.

“The air conditioning’s on now and you’ve all cooled down,” said Barry, as he sought another recess, before returning to declare the property on the market.

With no additional bids forthcoming, the hammer came down at €12.3m.