Thomas Potterton presided over a valiant auction battle at the Mullingar Park Hotel on Wednesday 12 August, as he knocked down a 118ac farm at Castletown Geoghegan, Co Westmeath for €1.34m.
Opening briskly at €900,000, the price was pushed to €1.2m as several bidders competed for the holding, which included a concreted yard with five-bay, portal-framed shed and handling facilities.
At this point, the auctioneer recessed before returning to seek further bids.
“We’re not terribly far away” he said, as bidding reignited, moving in increments of €25,000.
“It’s here, but it won’t be here in 10 minutes hopefully – and you’ll drive by it in regret,” he joked.
Moving at a good pace, a bidder on the left of the room locked horns with a bidder at the back, and the pair battled it out to €1.3m where the holding was placed on the market.
Quick-fire exchange
“It’s here for everyone, so don’t be shy,” said the auctioneer, as he called for more bids.
There was a short lull, before the increments dropped to €5,000, prompting another quick-fire exchange that saw the price rise to €1.34m, where it held.
“Can we have another second wind?,” asked the auctioneer, raising the gavel for the first time, but there was no advance and he knocked the farm down to the bidder on the left.
“Well done, you ran a great race,” Potterton said, congratulating the winner.
The final sale price of €1.34m is €140,000 higher than the original guide and represents a unit price of just over €11,300/ac.
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