The most obvious way to get to Bansha from the M8 is to take junction 10 and spin up the N24. With a little help from Google Maps I managed to take a slightly different route. The app took me off the motorway at junction nine, brought me down past Golden and Kilfeacle before taking a left, down the narrow country roads to my destination.

While this may not have been the app’s intention, I certainly wasn’t complaining. The splendid views of the Galtees overlooked the plains of lush summer grass either side of the road. The scenery was spectacular.

The signposts suggest you are in strong dairy country. Locations such as Golden, New Inn, Cahir and Tipperary town were all in the vicinity. Visually the fields were immaculate. The May sunshine has everything looking picture perfect as the dairy herds grazed contently. The route to the farm I was visiting passed through the Glen of Aherlow, one of the country’s most scenic areas.

The farm

The final destination was a grass farm, circa six minutes from Bansha and 11 minutes from the Limerick border, in a townland called Lisnagaul. The property is a 123-acre residential holding with a farmyard located next door. The farm is offered in three lots, including the entire with the guide for everything standing at a reasonable €1.1m or €9,000/ac.

The residence

The residence is a traditional four-bed farmhouse. Approached by an attractive tree-lined avenue, it is sheltered from the main road and is very private.

The residence.

The house had been refurbished in recent years while maintaining that traditional feel. Outside of the house, there is a spacious and neat parking area that leads into the farmyard. Again, this is surrounded by mature trees.

The farmyard

One of the highlights of this property lies in the farmyard. As you walk from the house to the end of the yard area, you come across the simply breathtaking views of the Galtee Mountains and the rolling hills of the south Tipperary countryside. On first viewing, you are taken aback by the stunning scenery. Standing in the same spot, you can see the three fields that surround the house. These fields make up almost 25 acres of land. These 25 acres, along with the house and the farm buildings make up the first lot of the package.

The farm buildings in question comprises of a four-bay haybarn with a lean-to cubicle shed, a three-bay cubicle shed, and a two-bay lean-to. There is also cattle handling facilities, two stables and a silage slab. It must be noted that the building facilities requires investment across the board, but they all have very good potential.

The land

The total acreage of the Bansha farm is 123 acres. As mentioned, lot one comprises of 25 acres on one side of the road.

The second lot is 97 acres and this is located directly across the road. The majority of the 97 acres is excellent grassland. Circa 20 acres has been recently reseeded and is set in Italian ryegrass. Every paddock is well fenced and has a good shelter belt. There are eight acres at the top of this lot that is situated just below forestry that adjoins Bansha woods. This would contain a thin layer of soil and wouldn’t be as good quality as the rest of the land. There is also three acres of forestry in this parcel.

The guide and interest

The guide for each lot is as follows;

  • Lot one: the house, farmyard and 25 acres is guided at €375,000.
  • Lot two: the 97 acres of land is guided at €750,000 or €7,700/ac.
  • Lot three: is the entire. This is guided for €1.1m or €9,000/ac.
  • The guide, for the area, is very reasonable. While there may be some lighter soil towards the Bansha hills, the majority of the land is very good quality. The absence of a bounding dairy farmer may have also impacted on the guide. However, the size of the farm would encourage farmers to travel. Dairy farmers in particular may be attracted to the property for silage or heifer rearing.

    As mentioned, for a farmer looking to use the farm buildings, investment would be needed. For a dairy farmer, a functional parlour would need to be installed. Some of the strongest interest is coming in for lot one, with a number of parties interested in the residence

    The sale

    It is an executor’s sale and the auction will take place on 5 June in the Aherlow House Hotel. The auctioneer handling the sale is Matt Ryan of Matthew Ryan and Son’s Auctioneers in Tipperary town.