A number of auctions have found the going tough recently in the Leinster and Munster regions, as three auctions failed to sell. Offered by Jordan Town and Country Estate Agents during October, the properties had little or no interest during auction, representing the difficult nature of some land sales around the country.

The level of interest on the day was in line with what Clive Kavanagh told Irish Country Living in recent weeks: that the market has been far from fruitful and 2018 had seen major inconsistencies. These recent auctions highlights that even the most experienced auctioneers are finding some sales tricky.

The land at Man O'War, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow.

Friarhill and Man O’War, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow

The first of the auctions was for land near Dunlavin in Wicklow.

This 158-acre farm was guided prior to auction at €1.03m, or €6,500/ac. One bid of €500,000, or €3,160/ac, was received before Kavanagh withdrew the farm. Negotiations have continued after the auction and have progressed well, the auctioneer confirmed. The auction took place in the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Co Kildare.

Offered in the entire only, the farm is situated off the Dunlavin to Hollywood road and is laid out in a number of divisions with mature timber boundaries and hedgerows.

The entire farm is well fenced, while the farmyard includes facilities for 150 head of stock with a small slatted unit, cubicle shed, seven-span haybarn and a straw-bedded shed with sheep-handling facilities and a dip trough. There is private and mains water on the property and there is also a two-storey derelict farmhouse. With the progress made since auction, there is hope that it will sell in the coming weeks.

The 57 acres at Ballymacwilliam, Edenderry, Co Offaly, were withdrawn.

Ballymacwilliam, Edenderry, Co Offaly

The second auction that failed to find a new home was a good-quality 57-acre holding in Ballymacwilliam near Edenderry. Offered in two lots, the first is circa 40 acres of top-quality tillage land, laid out all in one division. This received one bid of €300,000, or €7,500/ac, but was withdrawn. The price tag on this farm was €360,000, or €9,000/ac.

The second lot being offered was around 17 acres of forestry and scrub (accessed via a right of way) with a premium of circa €1,800/year. This received no bid, having been guided at €50,000, or €2,950/ac.

The first lot went against the current market trend. Typically good farms with medium-sized acreages such as this one sell. However, an inconsistent market will always find exceptions. Both lots are still up for negotiation.

Kedrah Castle is located at Cahir and was withdrawn at €1.1m.

Cahir Castle withdrawn at €1.1m

The third property which was unlucky at auction was Kedrah Castle in Cahir. The attractive property with a favourable location, 104 acres (including 20 acres of quarry) and a 2,400 sq ft house was withdrawn from auction after receiving three bids.

Guided for €2m beforehand, the holding opened at €1m before rising to €1.1m, at which point it was withdrawn. Similar to the other farms, there are talks continuing in the background.

Formally a dairy farm, in recent times the property has been used as an equine enterprise. The land is good Tipperary ground, with fine limestones soils. Laid out in 12 divisions, it is all in permanent pasture and, with the land partly post and railed, it has excellent shelter and internal roadways, giving access to nearly all paddocks. There are several streams ensuring water supply.