Four farmers walked into the Ardboyne Hotel last week determined to buy a 187ac farm at Kilmurray, Co Meath, but only one walked out the owner. Raymond Potterton opened for business at €1.3m accepting a number of further bids of €100,000 to bring the price up to €1.6m.

At that, the four farmers involved slowed the pace, now bidding in €50,000 increments. However, at €1.85m a dairy farmer from Co Dublin, threw a bid of €150,000 on the table rounding the price up to €2m and silencing his three opponents. Kilmurray is excellent land set up with an 18-unit parlour. Over 20 people attended the auction.

Carlow land

Meanwhile, Dawson REA had a busy day selling three blocks of land at an outdoor auction in Co Carlow. The 64ac at Maplestown with an old-style residence sold for €1.1m or over €17,100/ac. The 46ac holding at Ballyoliver sold for €630,000 or just €13,700/ac. The 77ac holding at Coolmanagh sold for €730,000 or €9,480/ac. The three blocks were all part of the one estate. Over 100 people attended the auction in the farmyard at Maplestown, auctioneer Mathew Conry told Irish Country Living.

No sale

Jordan Auctioneers put 65ac at Donore, Co Kildare, up for auction on Friday but it didn’t sell.