The Hayes Hotel was sold on Tuesday as part of a massive auction. The iconic Thurles hotel was the venue for the foundation of the GAA in 1884, so there were calls for the association to purchase it with a view to creating a museum. At the event, the hammer fell at €650,000 to a unnamed purchaser.

I understand the runner-up was local farmer Martin Healy, who himself was a founding member of the Midlands Beet Growers a decade ago following the closure of the Carlow beet factory.

Martin’s land was linked to the failed attempt to develop a casino in Tipperary, so perhaps Thurles came close to becoming Ireland’s answer to Las Vegas.

Capita was recently featured on these pages, following its purchase of South Western Services (SWS). Now I’m hearing that it’s taken over 10% of ACC Rabo’s loan book, much of which involves loans to farmers. The word on the street is that Capita could eventually become responsible for up to half of the old ACC loanbook, which would make it a significant figure in relation to farmer bank debt resolution. ACC has been accused of adopting fairly hardline tactics in the repossession of assets (as have most, if not all, of the banks in fairness), so it will be interesting to see the approach Capita takes.