Earlier this year, I visited Solsboro estate in Co Tipperary, which had just been put on the market by selling agents Sherry Fitzgerald Talbot, Nenagh, at an asking price of €2.25m. The estate is one of the finest properties I have visited all year, comprising 140 acres of excellent-quality land, a period residence, a separate bungalow residence, an extensive farmyard with outbuildings and the ruins of the old Solsboro mansion, which is a protected structure. The estate was originally offered for sale by private treaty, but after two bidders showed strong interest in the farm it was decided to proceed with the sale via a private auction.

The auction took place in the offices of Sherry Fitzgerald Talbot at 52 Kenyon St, Nenagh, and over 100 bids were received between both parties, which showed the intense competition for the farm.

Both parties were farming clients from the general Nenagh area. Irish Country Living understands that the buyer is a farmer with an existing dairy enterprise, so the farm is likely to be restored as a dairy enterprise or possibly used as an outfarm to hold replacement heifers.

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“This is undoubtedly one of the finest agricultural holdings to be offered for sale in north Tipperary in my 20 years in the property business,” said auctioneer William Talbot.

“Bidding was certainly sporadic and the price achieved exceeded all expectations, demonstrating the strength of the agricultural market at present, in light of the imminent abolition of milk quotas in 2015.”

The lands at Solsboro are all in one block, save for one 8.5-acre field, and have extensive frontage onto three roads, in particular the N52 Nenagh bypass.

The main entrance to the estate is on the Dark road, but the farm can also be accessed from the N52 through a separate farm entrance.

The farm is currently all in grass and was run as a dairy enterprise up until 2004, with all fields well-fenced and supplied with water.

The land is divided into good-sized, tidy paddocks, with an extensive farm roadway giving easy access to all parts of the farm.

House and farm

The house (2,717 sq ft), which is accessed via a long tarmacadam avenue, is a four-bedroom period residence surrounded by neat gardens and lawns.

Next to the house is a cobblestone courtyard with some old stone buildings and a coach house, which would be ideal for modern stabling.

To the rear of the house is an extensive farmyard that comprises an old 12-unit milking parlour, 17-unit cubicle house, 24-unit cubicle slatted shed, six-bay double-sized cattle shed (half slatted, half cubicles), three-bay hay shed with lean-to, silage walls and a cattle handling area with crush. A second bungalow residence, known as The Oaks, is situated on the other side of the farm, along the Grallagh road.

This house is a modern three-bedroom bungalow with a sitting room, living room, dining room and kitchen, that is set on one acre with mature gardens and lawns.

While Talbot was extremely pleased with the successful outcome of the auction, he added that there was a very disappointed under-bidder at the end of the day and he is now actively seeking a similar sized holding on their behalf. CL