A big block of land in Co Laois with EU payment entitlements, which is in a severely disadvantaged area and can also qualify for hen harrier payments is attracting plenty of farmer interest.

The 96ac is at Killanure, Mountrath, and it’s being sold jointly by auctioneers PJ Delaney and Seamus Burke, both based in Mountrath.

The land is of mixed quality. About 45ac is elevated and good quality.

The balance of the ground is low lying. It’s all in grass and divided into a number of fields with hedge boundaries.

Farm buildings

There are some sheds on the land which are quite old but some have been in regular use. These include a two-bay hayshed with lean-to. The farm has road frontage. There is no house.

The entitlements to EU direct payment have a face value of approximately €5,000, according to the auctioneers.

They estimate that the land could qualify for hen harrier payments of up to €4,000 per year. However, any potential buyer must satisfy themselves on the details of this.

The guide price on the farm is €400,000.

About half of the land at Killanure is elevated and good quality.