Auction

Shirley Busteed

sbusteed@farmersjournal.ie

A Co Meath dairy farmer became the new owner of a 67-acre residential holding situated at Craystown House, Bective, Navan, Co Meath, at last week’s public auction. The property, which came with a villa-style bungalow residence, a quaint Victorian-style cottage, eight stables and a range of outbuildings, surpassed the €900,000 guide price and sold under the hammer in its entirety for €1,020,000.

Selling agent Stephen Barry from Raymond Potterton Auctioneers, Navan, initially offered the property in two separate lots that included the bungalow residence on 2.26 acres, which was bid to €500,000, while the cottage and yard on circa 64.87 acres went to €440,000. This gave a combined total of €940,000.

Firmly blowing things out of the water, a high opening offer of €1m was placed on the entire and it took just two more bids to see the hammer quickly fall at €1,020,000 to a Co Meath dairy farmer.

This works out at €15,200/acre including the two houses and the outbuildings. The underbidder was believed to be a businessman.

70 acres near Crossakiel

On the same day, Raymond Potterton Auctioneers also offered two other properties for sale by action. A 70-acre farm at Firpark, Crossakiel, Kells was withdrawn at €585,000 but is understood to be making progress. Used to fatten cattle, the property was guided at €550,000 prior to auction.

128 acres near Raharney

Meanwhile, a 128-acre grassland farm located at Grangemore, Raharney, Co Westmeath, was withdrawn at €570,000 and is under negotiation. Reported to be an “exceptionally dry piece of ground that would benefit from some attention”, the property came with a five-bay steel frame shed and cattle handling facilities. It was guided in the region of €600,000 prior to auction.