The sale, which took place before Christmas, was for 170 acres and 67 acres respectively. Both sold, but it was the price that impressed local auctioneer Gerry Roland.

The 170 acres sold under the hammer for €168,000 or just under €1,000/ac, an impressive sum for commonage land.

The 67 acres also sold under the hammer for €1,000/ac or €67,000. The auction took place in Cawleys in Crossmolina, Co Mayo.

Outside interest

The auction itself saw some interest from outside the county in attendence.

Bidders from Offaly, Louth and Cork and showed interest in both lots and participated actively in the bidding.

However, both lots ended up in local hands when the auction finished.

The first lot, the 170 acres opened at €75,000 and increased to €125,000 as five bidders pushed the price.

Another intensive round of bidding saw the property rise once more until it reached €168,000 or almost €1,000/ac, before the hammer fell.

The highest pre-auction offer of €70,000 on the land highlighted how impressive the final price was. There was €9,800 worth of entitlements attached to this lot.

The second piece of ground, the 67 acres, opened at €30,000 and the significant interest in it drove the price forward until the hammer fell at €67,000 or €1,000/ac.

The highest pre-auction offer on this holding was €25,000. Entitlements worth €4,300 were attached to this share of the commonage.

A separate lot with a residence on 20 acres offered on the day, also sold for €63,000.

Auctioneer Gerry Roland told Irish Country Living that he was delighted with the sale, and that the level of interest dictated the higher price on this occasion.