As you drive along the main Mullingar to Castlepollard road, you would be forgiven for passing by the lovely residence and farm at Milltown. Only for the Murray Auctioneers signs and Pat Murray the auctioneer himself was standing at the front roadway, I would have been guilty of passing it by myself.

Mature trees and hedging shelter the home from the main road. The short avenue to the house is well concealed too. I remember thinking, if privacy is what people want: they may well find it here.

The property

In an overall sense there is quite a comprehensive package being offered in its entirety at Milltown. A well-maintained and ready-to-move-into residence, a spacious farmyard, some farm buildings and over 122 acres of good farmland ensure this property is nothing to be frowned upon. Its location, just 4km from Castlepollard, 16km from Mullingar and easy access to the M4 motorway, may be a selling point. In terms of lots, the second lot of almost 25 acres may be a desirable purchase for local farmers in the area.

The first lot of almost 97 acres may be better suited to a couple looking for a residence and land, or somebody looking for a nice residential farm in the quiet countryside.

Speaking with the auctioneer, however, the desirable outcome is to get the farm sold altogether. He believes to do otherwise would be a shame and one can’t blame him.

The residence

The house itself is a lovely five-bedroom, two-storey home. Cosy and practical, it is lived in at the moment and has been very well maintained by its current owner. To the back of the house is an open and spacious courtyard. You can tell by how tidy the courtyard is kept that the property in an overall sense is well-looked after.

This continues when you approach the farmyard. The roadway linking the courtyard to the farmyard is immaculate. The yard area is in similar condition. It is a traditional yard and comprises of a hay shed, a bedded shed and a slatted house that has the capability of accommodating up to 100 head of stock.The land stretches 122 acres and, according to Murray, is of prime quality. Well-fenced, it has been rented to a family connection and is used for grazing. It has a good water supply, cattle handling facilities and a cattle crush on the holding.

Offering

The farm is being offered by public auction on 20 September at 3pm at the Greville Arms Hotel in Mullingar. The guide is €1.2m, or just under €10,000/ac.