A 114-acre non-residential farm, nicely nestled between Kilcullen, Newbridge and Naas has just arrived on the market at Rosetown and Greenhills, Athgarvan, Co Kildare. I was in the fortunate position of having a super sunny day last Thursday to view the property, which is situated off the main Athgarvan/Two Mile House road.

Kildare is not immune to hosting big beautiful properties for sale. In 2014, the renowned 750-acre estate at Castlemartin was brought to the market and within weeks was snapped up by an American businessman, while the 400-acre estate at Courtown Demesne and Stud also arrived on the market the same year. Then in 2015, there was a 223-acre holding at Ravensdale, Leixlip, and a 382-acre beef farm at Clonkeen, Carbury.

Perhaps reflecting a later season, Rosetown is only one of three farms comprising 100 acres or more that have been brought to the open market in Co Kildare so far this year. The other two being 103 acres at St Johns, Castledermot and 104 acres at Moorhill, Brannockstown.

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Approached by a long hedge and tree-lined avenue, Rosetown was once home to a dairy herd, but in latter years has been used to accommodate a beef and equine enterprise. It’s understood the property has been breeding bloodstock since 1982 and has nurtured many group winners during that time.

Split by the M9 motorway, there are about 20 acres on the opposite side of the motorway that are accessed from a purpose-built underpass. Laid out in three fields, the views from the 20 acres are fabulous. When I was there last week, a fine bunch of beef cattle were happily chewing the cud and lapping up the sun’s rays. It was interesting to learn that this section actually bounds the 750-acre Castlemartin estate on one side.

The remaining circa 94 acres is set out in one big block. A farm roadway cuts through a portion of the land, which ranges from flat to rolling upland. In fact, the back of the farm has a surprising circa 900 metres of scenic frontage to the River Liffey and portrays a more parkland feel with its mature trees and tall hedges.

Fertile land

Laid out in six primary divisions, the 94 acres features a number of post and rail fences and would be regarded as “extremely fertile land”. Water is supplied from a private well and, given the generous frontage, there is also the potential to establish a house site subject to the appropriate planning permission.

The farmyard features a 10-bay loose-bedded shed, two round roof sheds with adjoining lean-tos, a disused milking parlour with feed bin, and a cattle crush and yard.

Although situated in a popular bloodstock region, Rosemount offers a genuine farming opportunity, particularly given the attractive excess €10,000/acre guide price.

The property offers a superb location coupled with good quality land, topped off with oodles of character in the form of extensive river frontage and mature hedges.

For sale by auction on 26 May at 3pm in Lawlor’s Hotel, Naas, the property will be offered in one lot only by joint selling agents REA Coonan, Celbridge and Maynooth and Goffs Country, Kill. The guide price is excess €1.14m. It should make for a very interesting auction at the end of May and possibly set a benchmark for land in the vicinity.

31 acres near Enfield

Meanwhile, Coonan Auctioneers is also handling the sale of 31 acres at Cappagh, Enfield, Co Meath. Laid out in three fields, the property is currently in pasture, has excellent road frontage and is described as “prime elevated free draining land”.

It goes to auction on 24 May in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, and is guided at €10,000/acre. CL