A super 168-acre farm at Carrickbaggot, Grangebellew, near Drogheda, Co Louth, was sold after being withdrawn from auction recently. The farm, which was guided for €1.68m, or €10,000/ac, was withdrawn very close to the guide at €1.66m, or over €9,900/ac.

After a brief negotiation after the sale, Tommy Clarke of Kieran and McGee sold the property for a higher sum. The buyer is believed to be a local, but their identity was not disclosed.

With 20 in attendance at the Kieran and McGee offices in Ardee, the bidding opened at €1m, or almost €6,000/ac. Six swift bids brought the property up to €1.6m ,or over €9,500/ac, with five bidders active. Another host of bids took the price to €1.66m, at which point the farm was withdrawn.

The farm itself is excellent. Coming to the market in the last number of weeks, this farm was auctioned in early October. Divided into 12, good-sized fields, the farm is laid out in 133 acres of tillage and 35 acres of grass.

In terms of buildings, there is a three-link hay shed with a double lean-to and the lands are supplied by a mains water supply. The interest prior to auction was strong, with some cross-border parties enquiring.

The result and number of active bidders shows that there is a strong appetite for good-quality large farms in the county.