Around 80 people turned up to the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, for last week’s auction of a 73-acre residential farm situated at Tomagaddy, Ballycanew, Gorey, Co Wexford. The property generated a lot of interest beforehand and sold on the day in three lots for a combined total of €729,000.

Selling agent David Quinn, Carnew and Gorey offered the farm in three separate lots initially.

The house and yard on 35.5 acres was bid to €385,000. A further 32.5 acres across the road fetched €245,000, while the remaining five acres peaked at €60,000.

ADVERTISEMENT

With no bid on the entire, Quinn consulted with the vendors and it was decided to declare the farm on the market in lots. With that, the house and yard on 35.5 acres were knocked down to an adjoining landowner for €417,000. The 32.5 acres across the road went no further and sold for €245,000 to a local landowner, while the remaining five acres sold for €67,000 to the same landowner that bought lot one. This gave a combined total of €729,000, which works out at almost €10,000/acre. Tomagaddy came to the market with a two-storey residence in need of refurbishment, a traditional farmyard, 18 acres of grassland and 55 acres of tillage ground.

18 acres near Aughrim

Elsewhere, the same agent withdrew an 17.3-acre parcel of land situated in Cappagh, Aughrim, Co Wicklow, at €100,000 at last week’s public auction.

It’s understood that a higher offer has been received but no deal has been concluded yet. Talks are continuing.

The guide price quoted prior to auction was between €130,000 and €140,000.

Three out of three in Co Meath

It was three out of three for auctioneer Raymond Potterton, Navan, at last week’s auction of three properties in Co Meath. A packed room, comprising a mix of local and sterling customers, generated some lively bidding and some higher than expected results.

Oldcastle land averages €9,800/acre

First up was a 50-acre residential holding situated in Knockbrack, Oldcastle. This was initially offered in two lots, namely six acres which were bid to €76,000 and 44 acres went to €350,000. Bidding for the entire opened at €450,000 and was later knocked down at €490,000 to a local farmer. This works out at €9,800/acre.

23 acres near Kells makes €8,500/acre

A further 23 acres, situated in Doon, Tierworker, Kells, opened at €150,000, went to the market at €190,000 and sold under the hammer for €195,000 (almost €8,500/acre) to a local farmer.

21.5 acres drops at €194,000

But the real excitement came when a 21.5-acre parcel of land was offered in Rathbrack, Crossakiel, Kells. After opening at €120,000, the sale price steadily moved to €160,000, at which stage, the property was declared on the market. After arriving at €170,000, bids as low as €1,000 were taken right up to €193,000 when the hammer was about to drop. Just then a new man decided to enter the fray and bid €194,000 (€9,000/acre) to clinch the sale. This was followed by a rapturous round of applause. The buyer was a businessman with local farming interests.

Offers on 32 acres near Rooskey

Although withdrawn at auction, a circa 32-acre parcel of land situated in Clonshanagh, Rooskey, Co Roscommon, has made good progress since.

It’s understood that auctioneer Finton McGill, Longford, has received offers on the two lots, namely 20 acres and circa 12 acres, respectively.

The property, which is four miles from Rooskey, comes with a slatted shed and about four acres of turbary rights. It was guided at €6,000/acre prior to auction.

Kildare stud falls at €540,000

Around 15 people turned up to last week’s auction of a 56-acre holding situated in Boley, Ballylynan, Athy, Co Kildare.

This property was specifically geared out for an equestrian enterprise, featuring an eight-furlong gallop, 18 loose boxes, a lunging ring, galloping ring, a six-horse walker as well as a three/four-bedroom bungalow residence.

On the day, selling agent Clement Herron, Portlaoise and Dublin, opened the bidding at €450,000.

Despite having four active customers, it took a lot of hard graft to get the sale price to €540,000, at which stage the property was declared on the market.

Another €10,000 saw the hammer fall at €550,000 (€9,800/acre) in trust to a solicitor.

It’s suspected she was acting for a person from the equine industry, but this remains unconfirmed.