Speculation is rife in Co Tipperary that Rockwell Farm has been bought by a pair of serial investors from Co Kildare.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that Michael McElligott and Fintan Flood signed on the dotted line for the prestigious Co Tipperary farm in the last week.

With a guide price of €21m set by the Spiritan Order for the 813ac farm, it is believed that the farm sold for in excess of €25m in recent days and was purchased as a going concern that includes the dairy herd.

ADVERTISEMENT

It is understood that there were eight bidders for the property in a two-stage sales process.

McElligott is the founder and principal at Tetrarch Capital, Tetrarch Homes and Framespace Solutions and was first reported to have been bidding for Rockwell by The Times last weekend.

Citywest

Tetrarch, a real estate investment company, bought into Ireland’s largest hotel Citywest in 2013 for around €29m. In June 2025, the Government announced it was to buy the hotel for €148.2m.

Between 2013 and 2025, the hotel earned tens of millions for its investors, when it was used first as a COVID-19 testing and vaccination centre, then as accommodation for refugees fleeing war and, latterly, as accommodation for international protection seekers.

An aerial view of the two blocks of land that comprise the 813ac Rockwell Farm in Co Tipperary. \ Sherry FitzGerald

Tetrach’s portfolio traditionally consists of commercial or office real estate, hospitality and residential properties, in addition to development sites and land, with the bulk of its assets in the Dublin region.

Framepace Solutions is a construction firm that manufactures steel-frame modular housing in Co Longford.

Company documents reveal that Michael McElligott is one of two directors of a recently-formed company called Bovinae Investments. The other director is Fintan Flood, an investor in real estate whose business career focused on the food packaging industry.

Spiritan redress

When Rockwell Farm was put on the market in October, Spiritan provincial Brendan Carr confirmed that Rockwell was the first of several properties being sold as part of the Spiritans’ commitment to make redress to victims of child sexual abuse by its members.

Rockwell Farm comprises 813ac, with extensive yards and sheds. \ Sherry FitzGerald

The order was profoundly sorry for the deplorable abuse suffered by those in its care, he said.

“We have been fully transparent about our financial position. The reality is we do not yet have the liquid resources required to begin issuing redress payments,” he said.

Rockwell’s selling agents Sherry Fitzgerald and the Spiritan Order have been contacted for comment.