Kerry is a county where demand for good-quality agricultural land is extremely strong, mainly due to the shortage in supply of good land coming to the market.

In saying this, it will be interesting to see how the public auction of 54 acres of top-quality farmland goes in the first week of March.

The compact farm, which includes a bungalow in need of some improving, is located in the townland of Cloonlara, just outside the village of Firies, Co Kerry. The land is all in one block and presently in grass, with extensive frontage onto a secondary road. Next to the bungalow residence is a small farmyard including a four-bay double-span hay shed and various stone outbuildings.

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Killarney-based auctioneer Tom Spillane, who is handling the sale, is expecting a good showing for the farm given the quality of the land. Spillane will offer the farm at Cloonlara for sale by public auction on Wednesday 4 March, at 3pm in the Royal Hotel, Killarney, and is guiding €10,000/acre.

Beaufort golf club

Spillane is also handling the sale of 235.7 acres of land which includes Beaufort Golf Club, in a joint agency with Savills Cork office. The extensive property is situated on the outskirts of Beaufort village, just off the main road between Killarney and Killorglin.

Approximately 153.3 acres of the land are in use as an 18-hole golf course, with the remainder of the lands (82.45 acres) used for farming purposes and laid out in four separate divisions.

The overall holding had originally been intended to be developed as a hotel and golf resort with a leisure centre and residential development.

However, the development fell through during construction and all that remains is the four-storey shell structure of the planned hotel.

Given its location along the ring of Kerry, this property may have plenty of potential and might present an ideal opportunity for an enthusiastic investor. Joint agents Tom Spillane and Savills are offering the property in its entire at an asking price of €2m or it can be sold in two separate lots.

Lot one comprises the 82.45 acres of agricultural land and is available for €750,000 (€9,100/acre). The second lot includes the golf course on 149 acres, along with the unfinished hotel complex which has an asking price of €1.25m. The property is for sale by private treaty.