A suckler farmer outbid three dairy underbidders for a lovely 65-acre farm in Carricknagower near Ballymore, Mullingar recently.

The farmers stall was set out from the start. When Denis O’Rourke called for an opening bid at the beginning of the auction, a call of €550,000 or €8,500/ac came from the floor. The guide prior to auction was €520,000 or €8,000/ac. The auction room sat in silence and shock as the eventual buyer put his case forward without delay. There would be no shadow boxing at this auction.

With the stunned auction room not prepared for it, O’Rourke had to go to the well to draw everybody back in. When he did, bidding became brisk. There were four bidders for the farm by the end of proceedings. It was put on the market at €615,000 or €8,900/ac and increased until finally the hammer fell at €645,000 or just under €10,000/ac.

The suckler farmer who brashly opened the bidding claimed the prize.

The farm itself is located just 3km west of Ballymore village and the lands here are of good quality. Offered in the entire only, it has over 1km of road frontage onto two minor public roads. Fenced well, it is livestock proof. It is being sold by a farmer consolidating his holding. The lands are suitable for any type of farming.

The auction took place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone.