Last year saw Kildare consistently fetch some high land values. In fact, in 2017 they were the only county to break the €14,000/ac average. So when reasonably guided farms come up in the county, especially in areas that are well-renowned, people will take notice.

Cue the substantial 157-acre property in Blackrath, Colbinstown, near Kilcullen. Divided into three lots, including the entire, the farm is one of very few of this size in the area to come to the market in recent times. As outlined in the aerial photo, the surrounding land around the farm is of the highest quality.

Arable for the most part, you enter good agricultural territory here and, with the presence of dairy, beef, tillage and equine farmers in the vicinity, competition for land is high. While parts of this farm may be of a heavier nature, a bit of love and nourishment can see this holding mirror that of the surrounding farms.

At €9,000/ac, the potential to do this is quite high. Already fenced along the boundary and containing a good hedgerow network, the farm is livestock proofed. It has a natural water supply and is ready to use. All in grass at the moment, it has been used for grazing in recent times.

The farm has been rented over the last number of years and has been kept in reasonable condition. With the raw material present, some investment and work will give the farm the platform to improve.

The lots

The individual packages vary in size. The first, is a 40-acre lot. Described by auctioneer Philip Byrne of Coonan Properties, Maynooth, as a super piece of ground, it is the best land in the offering. Elevated and with good road frontage, the location would also make it suitable for a site pending the relevant planning permission.

The second lot is circa 117 acres. The majority of this land is of a similar quality to the first lot, but there are some areas of low-lying land that wouldn’t be as good. Both lots have been grazed and are presented in grass.

The location was something that Byrne focused on when speaking to Irish Country Living. Located circa four kilometres from Kilcullen, eight kilometres from Castledermot, 17km from Naas and just 45km from Dublin, it is well situated.

The property is being offered by public auction next Thursday 4 October at 3pm in Lawlors Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare. Interest has been good so far, in no small way due to the reasonable guide.