Is there any farmer group or organisation interested in slaughtering and marketing their own livestock, to bypass the big factories? Well here might be an opportunity to do so. A relatively small-scale, working abattoir has come on sale in Co Clare.

It’s Ennis Abattoir Ltd and the current owners plan to retire. The premises and business, including customer list, are for sale.

The agents are not disclosing the asking price – except for serious enquiries. They are REA Paddy Browne & Co and Vaughan Hannon Auctioneers.

The abattoir is located on just over 3ac quite near the centre of Ennis town, on the Tulla Road. This means the site has potential for many other uses in addition to its current operation.

The abattoir has a licence for 5,000 units – this is the ceiling on weekly throughput. The business slaughters and processes mainly sheep but some cattle, too.

It has good customers for specialist meats. The large site allows car parking plus two holding areas for livestock.

Inside, the layout includes a lairage, kill floor, hide room, three chill rooms and walk in fridges and a separate boning hall. There is room to store approximately 70 cattle and 100 sheep in the fridges.

The building’s floor area is approximately 4,660 sq ft. The commercial rates are €4,000 per annum.

One offer has already been submitted for the property.