Activity across Ireland is picking up as we enter late February. Agents around Ireland are gearing up to get their first sales onto the public domain.

Weather and Brexit permitting, a major burst of land will be seen around late March and into April.

However, some really top-quality land parcels have already been placed on the market. One such property is the 246-acre Clonogan House, Clonegal, near Enniscorthy in Co Wexford. Located right on the border of Wicklow, Carlow, and Wexford, this holding is located in prime agricultural territory.

Taking land values from each county over the last five years, typically average land prices don’t dip below €10,000/ac that often. The guide on this farm is between €2.3m to €2.5m or €9,000/ac and €10,000/ac.

The farm

The property is a comprehensive 246-acres, with a large period farmhouse in need of modernisation and a number of farm buildings.

Agent David Quinn, one of the region’s most active land auctioneers, described it as a rare package, referring to the size of the farm and the area it is in.

The farm was previously a renowned beef and tillage holding, expanding into thoroughbred horses in the last 30 years. The previous owner, the late Peter McCrea, was a well respected thoroughbred breeder.

The farm remained a productive beef and tillage enterprise until his death. According to Quinn, the land is generally of excellent quality, with over 200 acres of arable ground.

The farm is divided by the public road with 160 acres surrounding the house and farmyard and circa 58 acres situated directly across the public road, adjoining the River Derry.

Over 24 acres, including an old sandpit, are located across a local road from the main holding.

Currently, 60 acres are in tillage with the remaining in permanent pasture. The soil is free draining and would be suited to a variety of agricultural enterprises.

The ground immediately around the house and farmyard has been sub-divided into a number of grazing paddocks with timber stud rail fencing. The farm has over 1km of road frontage.

It has been rented for the last number of years and has been kept in excellent condition.

The house

A traditional farmhouse, it was built in 1825 and has had a number of extensions added in the intervening years.

A 250-acre farm at Clonogan House, Clonegal, Co Wexford.

While the residence would benefit from some upgrading and modernisation, it is spacious throughout with seven bedrooms and ample living accommodation.

This property is approached by a tarmacadam avenue and stud-railed driveway with electric gates at the road, for security.

Farm buildings

There is an extensive range of both equestrian facilities and livestock facilities on the farm, all of which are well maintained and in excellent condition.

The equestrian facilities include 13 stables in two separate sheds, a horse walker with six compartments and an 18m x 9m horse shed.

The livestock facilities include four substantial round roof sheds and two lean-tos. A garage is also present here.

The farmyard is a spacious area that allows for the operation of heavy machinery.

The lots and guides

The property is offered in five lots, including the entire.

Lot one: The first lot is the house and 104 acres of land. The land here contains almost 50 acres of tillage and over 50 acres is presented in grass. The fields presented in grass are stud rail-fenced and would have facilitated the equestrian operation on the farm. For this reason, the agent says this lot as a standalone, would be ideal for someone looking for a substantial equine unit. The guide is €1m to €1.2m or between €9,500/ac and €11,500/ac.

Lot two: The second lot is 58 acres of top-quality land. All in grass, it is arable land and contains extensive road frontage. The guide on this lot is between €500,000 to €550,000 or €8,600/ac to €9,500/ac.

Lot three: This lot is also 58 acres. Half of it is laid out in tillage while the other half is in grass. The guide is slightly lower than lot two at between €450,000 to €500,000 or €7,700/ac to €8,600/ac as some of the ground is heavier in nature.

Lot four: This is 24 acres of good tillage land and is guided at €200,000 to €250,000 or €8,300/ac and just over €10,000/ac.

Public auction

The farm is being offered by public auction on the 20 March at 2pm in Mount Wolseley Hotel, Tullow, Co Carlow. The farm was released onto the market in early February and interest has been very high over the last number of weeks.