It takes a special auctioneering ability to entice people to bid against themselves and GVM veteran Tom Crosse proved that he has that talent in spades, as he brought the hammer down on a 112ac farm in Coolyhenan, Drombanna, Co Limerick, in a cracking auction on Wednesday 9 September.

The holding was offered in three separate lots and in its entirety at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Limerick.

Proceedings got under way quickly. Lot 1, a 47.5ac plot with traditional farmhouse, opened and held at €600,000.

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Lot 1 included a house on 47ac.

Lot 2, a 47ac plot across the road, opened at €500,000 and quickly reached €625,000.

Lot 3, a 17.5ac parcel, opened at €150,000, with in-room bidders driving it to €375,000.

In-room and online bidders drove the entire holding to €1.66m. After a brief recess, a second round began.

“Put your best foot forward on each lot, as it may well influence how this will unfold,” said the auctioneer as lot 1 reopened.

“€750,000,” called the existing bidder, increasing his bid by €150,000. The online bidder countered and the exchange continued to €800,000.

Lot 2 reached €650,000 with a different in-house bidder.

“You have an opportunity to up the ante if you wish,” said Tom. “€675,000,” responded the bidder.

Lot 3 reached €380,000, before the entire was offered again at €1.85m and pushed to €1.875m.

Round three

A third round of bidding followed in a similar fashion, with lot 1 reaching €900,000, lot 2 reaching €750,000 and lot 3 reaching €390,000.

With no further bids on the entire, the farm was placed on the market in individual lots.

Lot 1 resumed with a bid of €910,000 from the online bidder.

“Will you just sell it to me,” joked the in-room bidder, pushing to €920,000. The battle continued to €970,000.

“A million, that’s it,” called the in-house bidder.

The gavel came down to applause and a collective sigh of relief. The winning bidder is believed to be an adjoining landowner with business and farming interests.

Lot 2 reached €770,000, where the hammer fell to a local with farming interests.

Lot 3 had no further bids and was knocked down at €390,000 to a local farming family.