If there are any farmers out there with €7m in loose change jingling around in their pockets, then they could do worse than skedaddle to Ballyboughal in north Co Dublin and take a look at Skidoo House and Farm.
The 237ac property is being sold by Savills and will tempt what could be described as ‘Premier League’ buyers who value trophy holdings.
The sale will also be of interest to those with a nose for history – even if they can’t afford to buy the farm – because Skidoo was once home to Omar Van Landeghem who was one the most interesting characters in Irish agriculture during the second half of the 20th century.
A Belgian national, Van Landeghem’s first visit to Ireland was in June 1945 when he attended the Dublin Cattle Market in Prussia Street, along with three other buyers.
The foursome went on to purchase three shiploads of cattle, dairy cows and horses on behalf of Belgian farmers over the following few weeks.
Van Landeghem subsequently relocated to Ireland and went on to build a major cattle exporting business.
He later purchased Skidoo and established a renowned Charolais herd on the farm.
Indeed, his Skidoo herd was among the leading Charolais herds in the country from the 1960s onwards.
Along the way, Van Landeghem also took time to invest in Shannon Meats in Rathkeale, Co Limerick.
Will that fascinating back story add a bob to the value of the modern Skidoo? Not likely – but it’s always good to know.
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