Derryhiney farm, extending to 340 acres, sold at public auction last week for €2.6m (€7,647/acre) to a farmer with “extensive dairy interests”. The farm is located at Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway, and was once owned by Rickard Deasy, a farmer educated in Oxford who helped found the National Farmers Association – later renamed the Irish Farmers Association. Deasy served as president of the IFA from 1962 to 1967.

The farm was offered for sale by public auction by selling agent Raymond Potterton, Navan, with three interested parties making offers on the farm. Bidding opened at €1.8m, rising in bids of €50,000 and €100,000, until it reached €2.5m, when it was put on the market. After two more bids, the farm was sold for €2.6m.

Derryhiney comprises a single-storey farmhouse residence and a range of modern farm buildings set on two farmyards, including a slatted shed for 120 cattle, silage walls, a second slatted shed with room for 120 cattle, an open-sided barn, as well as the original cut-stone buildings in a traditional courtyard setting.

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The land is set out for a number of uses, with 230 acres under tillage, while the remainder is in grass.

Almost €11,000/acre for farm in Meath

An 81-acre farm situated in Castletown, Athboy, Co Meath, was sold at auction last week for €890,000 (€10,988/acre). Selling agent Stephen Barry of Raymond Potterton Auctioneers, Navan, said it was a “powerful auction” with plenty of action. Bidding opened at €550,000 and increased in increments of €5,000 and €10,000. After an offer of €830,000, the land was put on the market and was eventually knocked down to a solicitor acting in trust on behalf of a local farmer. The farm is situated right on the periphery of the town of Athboy and has huge potential. The land is all in grass and laid out in seven good-sized and manageable paddocks that are divided by well-fenced hedges.

Castledermot Farm sold for over €15,000/acre

Last week, auctioneer Michael Lyng, Castledermot, sold a 52-acre farm situated in Abbeyview, Castledermot, Co Kildare, for €785,000 (€15,096/acre), which represents a very strong price for land in the area.

According to Lyng, a large crowd turned out for the auction last Wednesday at the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow, and there was stiff competition for the farm. Lyng began by offering the farm in its entire, but there was little interest so he then went through the lots.

Lot one comprised nine acres, along with the farmyard and some outbuildings.

An opening offer of €100,000 got proceedings underway, with offers increasing by €10,000 at a time. There was plenty of interest in the property, with six bidders making offers on the farm.

A neighbour operating as a cattle haulier secured the land with his winning bid of €200,000.

Lyng then offered the remaining 43 acres, which again attracted plenty of interest, with seven bidders making offers for the land.

Bidding opened at €500,000 and rose in increments of €10,000, before it was knocked down to a local farmer situated a mile and a half away, for €585,000 (€13,605/acre).

Michael Lyng said he was “very pleased” with the outcome of the auction, which shows the strong enthusiasm for land in the area.

Farnees House sells in lots

Farnees house and farm, situated in Tinahely, Co Wicklow, was sold in lots at public auction last week. The farm comprises a two-storey farmhouse and a compact farmyard with a range of outbuildings, including a three-bay hay shed with adjacent silage walls, a cubicle shed, a modern three-span sheep shed with lean-to and a cattle crush and collection area, all sitting on 165 acres.

According to selling agent Matthew Conry, there was some interest for the farm in its entire, but in the end it went in lots.

The first lot comprised the house, farmyard and 102 acres, with two interested parties making offers on the farm. In the end, lot one was sold to a local farmer for €650,000 (€6,373/acre).

The second lot comprised 62 acres and would be considered the best of the land. Once again, two interested parties made offers on the land and it was eventually bought by a neighbouring farmer for €540,000 (€8,710/acre).