Last year was a mixed year for auctions and certain auctioneers found the going tough when it came to getting properties sold under the hammer. Obtaining finance was certainly an issue and this contributed to significant withdrawals. Auctioneers nationwide will be hopeful that auction room performance will improve in 2019.

February usually sees the first trickle of activity. Two interesting auctions will take place this week, with the first one on Thursday 7 February and another high-quality auction on Friday in Wexford.

A compact Carlow farm will be auctioned on 21 February. All farms have attracted interest from locals farmers.

Roadside farm guides €11,000/ac

The first of the farms for auction is a well-presented 47-acre holding in Knockadooma, Templemartin, Bandon, Co Cork.

The farm is situated circa 15km north of Bandon, in an area with strong dairy and tillage farmers. For those interested in Irish history, Beál na Bláth, the location where Michael Collins was shot, is just over 5km west of the farm.

The 47-acre holding in Knockadooma, Templemartin, Bandon, Co Cork, is guided for around €11,000/ac.

The agent handling the sale is Daniel Fleming of Daniel Fleming Auctioneers, Blarney. Speaking to Irish Country Living, he described the property as a good-quality arable farm. Currently all in grass, it has been used for grazing and silage. However, the farm could easily be used for tillage. It is currently leased by a dairy farmer.

The property also contains a ruin of an old house. It is being offered in two lots, which are separated by a driveway. Both lots are equal, with 23.5 acres in each and both have ample road frontage.

The basics of the farm are also adequate, with fencing, ESB and the land all in good condition.

This is an executor’s sale. The auction takes place on 7 February in the Riverside Park Hotel, Macroom Co Cork.

€1m for Wexford farm

The second farm up for auction this week is a good-quality, 91-acre farm in Knockanevin Castle Ellis, Blackwater, Co Wexford.

The residential property was previously offered by private treaty, but the decision was made to put it to public auction. It is also an executor’s sale.

The 91-acre farm in Knockanevin Castle Ellis, Blackwater, Co Wexford, is guided for €1m.

The house on the property is a traditional farmhouse. It is in need of total renovation, having not been lived in for the last number of years. According to the agent, Frank McGuinness of Sherry FitzGerald O’Leary Kinsella, there is potential if good investment was made in the house.

The holding is divided into four lots, including the entire. Lot one is just over 50 acres of land. The majority of the ground here is in good condition, however 10 acres are in need of work, such a drainage and fencing.

Having said that, the raw materials are there and the ground is good quality. This arable farm has good road frontage and great access.

The second lot is just over 37 acres. Similar to lot one, it has been kept in good condition. The land here has been rented for a considerable period of time to a dairy farmer and a drystock farmer respectively.

The third lot is the house on 3.6 acres. There is also a range of outbuildings, including a three-bay, round-roof hay shed. This lot has dual entrance from the road. The fourth lot is the entire. So far interest has been strong, according to Frank.

The auction takes place on Friday 8 February in the Riverside Park in Enniscorthy Co Wexford. The guide for the entire is €1m, or almost €11,000/ac.

Compact Carlow property for €10,000/ac

A lovely 23-acre Carlow farm is being offered for auction in late February, with a guide of €10,000/ac. The holding, located in Ballynoe, Ardattin, Co Carlow, will be offered on 21 February.

The auction will take place in the offices of REA Dawson Tullow, under the watchful eye of agents Matthew Conry and John Dawson.

The property itself is all in one block and is adjacent to Ardattin village and almost 4km from Tullow. It is currently in grass and was used as a grazing farm. Well fenced, it has very good access and ample road frontage onto the Ballynoe road. There has been solid local interest in the holding, according to Conry, who added that the property would be ideal for a farmer looking to expand.