Small parcel sold after auction

A small 10-acre holding in Kilkenny was sold after being withdrawn from auction. Located in Springhill, Jenkinstown, the property was handled by Joseph Coogan. Opening at €70,000, the parcel only received one bid before being withdrawn. Negotiations between the vendor and the highest bidder took place after the auction and the holding was sold for higher price. It was sold to a drystock farmer.

According to Coogan, the lands are of good grazing quality, kitted out with good fencing and are well maintained. The parcel has road frontage onto the main Ballyragget to Kilkenny road. All parties are said to be happy with the final sale.

Auction fails to sell

The 87 acres in Clare originally postponed due to Storm Emma took place in the last 10 days. Unfortunately, interest on the day was not as fruitful as hoped and the property was withdrawn from the market after failing to generate a bid from the floor. In saying that, there was a token bid as it was promised on the day that exclusivity would be granted to the highest bidder.

Negotiations are currently still ongoing. Auctioneer handling the sale is Cormac O’Sullivan of DNG O’Sullivan Hurley. He said it was keenly priced at €450,000, or almost €5,200/acre, and they are trying to meet this reserve going forward in talks between the vendor and a potential buyer.

The property itself is located on the Shanaway Road just outside Ennis. The lands were partially zoned in the original development plan, but were completely de-zoned in the new development plan. O’Sullivan has confirmed that there may be potential in the future for the lands to be zoned once again due to the location. The farm is currently being grazed and is located in good drystock country.

Farmers share spoils

It was a busy few weeks of auctions under the watchful eye of Anne Carton of PN O’Gorman.

This auction was the first, however, to be withdrawn from proceeding for her this year, as activity was called to a halt at €150,000. Carton confirmed to Irish Country Living that it was sold immediately after for a higher price to two neighbouring farmers. The farmers were dairy and drystock respectively. The land was located in Ballalog, Tullogher, Co Kilkenny.

The holding was offered in three lots, including the entire. Lot one’s bidding opened at €50,000 and was bid up to €90,000, before being withdrawn. Lot one was a 14-acre elevated holding.

Described as upper land, it’s grazing ground of mixed quality and is divided into seven paddock. Prior to auction, this parcel was guided for between €6,000/ac and €7,000/ac.

The second lot opened at €30,000 and progressed up to €50,000, before being withdrawn. This lot contained a derelict residence with five acres of strip land, as well as 11 acres of bogland. Prior to auction this parcel was guided for circa €6,000/ac.

After the lots were offered, the entire made €150,000 and was withdrawn when no further bids were reached.

The talks after auction eventually sold the holding for a higher price. The auction took place in the Brandon House in New Ross where a good crowd were in attendance, according to Carton, who was also pleased with the outcome.

60 acres sold prior to auction

While many auctions this week were withdrawn due to lack of interest or competition, 59 acres in Clondrohid, near Macroom in Co Cork, had the opposite issue. A huge volume of interest prior to auction for this residential holding saw it sell before the auction took place.

Auctioneer handling the sale Nick Maher, of Maher Auctioneers, said that while auction was the first preference, if the interest and ability were there to sell before auction the seller would be willing to do so. While Maher confirmed up to 20 interested parties, three bidders contested the property before auction. It was placed on the market and sold for an undisclosed sum.

The holding itself was offered in four lots, including the entire. The first lot was the farmhouse itself. This is a four-bed, two-storey old farmhouse that is in need of modernisation. Lot two were 35 acres of a combination of good- and mixed-quality ground. Easily accessed, it is well laid out and divided into five paddocks. Lot number three is a 23-acre parcel of good quality. It is divided into four paddocks and again is well laid out.

The fourth lot was the entire and it was in this form it was sold to a solicitor in trust.

Maher told Irish Country Living that they are actively looking for more farmland in that particular area.

Holding makes €125k more after withdrawn

Fifty-one acres in Lower Shanid, Shangolden, Co Limerick, saw a surge of activity after it was withdrawn from auction, with an extra €125,000 made for the holding after proceedings finished.

Offered in two lots and the entire, lot one consisted of almost 16 acres and the second lot totalled 35 acres. The first lot was withdrawn at €140,000, or €8,750/ac, while lot two was withdrawn at €200,000, or €5,710/ac, after one bid was placed on each lot.

Similarly, just one bid of €350,000, or €6,800/ac, was placed on the entire, to better the €340,000 achieved for the combination of the lots.

It was from here that the activity took off and by 6pm lot one had jumped €35,000 and bidding on lot two jumped €90,000. In the end, lot one sold for €175,000, or almost €11,000/ac, and lot two sold for €290,000, or €8,300/ac. The buyer of lot one was believed to be living out of Ireland but is from the area.

The lands themselves were in need of attention in parts. Both had been rented for years and lot one in particular could do with some work. The second parcel is better quality lands, but again in parts it could do with work.

Auctioneer handling the sale, Charles O’Brien said all parties were very satisfied with the outcome of the sale.

17 acres in Longford withdrawn

Withdrawing property from auction was frequent over the last week or so, with another 17 acres also failing to sell under the hammer in Longford.

This particular holding of 17 acres was located in Esker, Ballinalee Co Longford. Opening at €50,000, the holding received just one bid before being withdrawn. The highest bidder was believed to be a drystock farmer. Negotiations with this farmer continued after auction, where the holding is being sold privately. Progress is said to have been made since auction.

The land is being sold by a farmer with business interests and was guided for circa €100,000. In terms of quality, the holding was good grazing ground in need of attention in parts, but had potential. It was offered in the entire. The auction took place at the Longford Arms Hotel with circa 15 in attendance. CL