A packed house turned up to last week’s auction of one of the biggest farms to arrive on the market in Co Meath in recent years, Bensfort House and Lodge, Kells, Co Meath.

Standing on 230 acres, the property was originally brought to the market by private treaty last autumn, but it all came to a head in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, last Friday when joint agents Coonan Auctioneers, Maynooth and Celbridge, and REA T&J Gavigan, Kells, offered it under the hammer.

Just four miles from Kells, Bensfort came to the market with a 1700s’ two-storey residence, a three-bedroom lodge, a tennis court, landscaped gardens and a range of farm buildings.

ADVERTISEMENT

Owned by the Gibney family, the property has been extremely well maintained and farmed to a high standard down through the years.

At the auction, a high opening bid of €1.8 million was forwarded and the sale price steadily moved in €100,000 increments to €2.2 million with the help of three active customers. From then on, bids of €50,000 were taken, which brought the property up to €2.4 million.

After consultation with the vendors, it was decided to withdraw the property at €2.4 million or almost €10,500/acre. The agents then entered private negotiations with the highest bidder and a deal was agreed for what is believed to be a substantially higher figure.

The buyer is a successful Co Meath-based businessman with farming interests. Interestingly, there were no neighbouring/local farmer buyers at the auction. The two underbidders included another businessman and an auctioneer who was believed to be acting for a European-based client.

39-acre parcel withdrawn

Meanwhile, Coonan Auctioneers offered a 39-acre parcel of land located at Grange Bective, Navan, Co Meath, for sale by auction on the same day. Situated on the outskirts of Navan town, the property came with a derelict house and yard but has full planning for a replacement residence set on an elevated site.

At the auction, the land failed to reach its €10,000/acre guide price and was withdrawn at €360,000. There were two primary bidders on the day and it’s understood that negotiations are continuing but no deal has been agreed yet.

80 acres in Co Laois goes to auction

Elsewhere, Coonans will offer an 80-acre holding situated near Ballickmoyler, Co Laois, for sale by auction on 9 July next in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth.

Rented out, the land has been used for grazing over the years and comes with exceptional countryside views – on a fine day, it is possible to see seven counties from one of the highest points on the farm.

However, the land itself would, reportedly, benefit from some attention. There is also a derelict house and yard on the property.