David Quinn has seen an extraordinary number of weeks in the auction room. Two weeks ago Irish Country Living reported a ‘freak’ auction of 57 acres at Ballynabola, New Ross, settling under the hammer at €18,500/acre. A similarly freakish result at an auction in Wexford took place over the last two weeks. This time the offering was a 65-acre roadside holding. Auctioned in four separate lots, the farmland is located circa 5km from Carnew and 2km from Askamore.

On this occasion, two of the four lots were sold. The price settled for on the second lot was a huge €18,750/acre. In total, the 33 acres sold reached over €17,100/acre.

The first of the lots to sell was lot three. The 17.4-acre parcel, which is used for tillage, was guided at a reasonable price of between €8,000-€9,000/acre. It made far more. Opening at €150,000, four bidders drove the price to €220,000. At this point the property was put on the market after consultation with the vendors and was knocked down at €265,000. This parcel has been used to grow corn over the last number of years and is slightly more elevated than the other lots, albeit of superb quality.

The second lot that sold was also of the highest quality. This consisted of slightly over 16 acres, which were used to grow barley last year. It is laid out in one large paddock and was guided at around €10,000/acre. Again, it well exceeded this.

Also opening at €150,000, three bidders pushed the price to €220,000 at which point it was put in the market. With seemingly the deal wrapped up, a solicitor entered the fray and bidding began in ernest once again. Eventually, the hammer fell at €300,000, or €18,750/acre.

This is the second time that David Quinn saw auctions of this price bracket in the last two weeks.

The two other lots were also performing well at auction before being withdrawn. The 16 acres were withdrawn at €220,000. This parcel, which is in stubble, was guided for €10,000/acre. Split into two paddocks, it has a natural water supply and extensive road frontage.

The fourth and final lot comprised of 14 acres and this was withdrawn at €130,000. It has no road frontage, but is in close proximity to lot one. This part of the holding is of mixed quality, with six acres in tillage and the other eight acres consisting of heavier grazing grassland. The eight acres here would need extensive work to restore them to grazing potential, with reseeding and drainage required.

Formally a dairy farm, this holding has been in tillage for more than a decade. The public auction took place on Wednesday, 28 February, at Quinn’s Carnew office. Prices fell in Wexford by almost 7% in 2017. If 2018 is teaching us anything so far about the county, it is that the appetite is very strong for good-quality holdings.

80 acres in golden veil

Quinn is also offering 80 acres of good quality near Cahir on 21 March. Located circa 8km from Cahir and 12km from Midleton, the parcel is situated in good agricultural country. With an address of Moonaloughra, Burncourt, it is guided for €500,000, or just over €6,000/acre. Given the location, this is more than reasonably priced. The auction will take place at the Kilcoran Lodge Hotel in Cahir. CL