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Located between Kilnahinch and Kilcurley just outside of Moate, this enticing Westmeath parcel marks one of the largest farming blocks to come to the open market this year, only behind nearly 1,800 acres of bog land in Co Mayo and a 5,000 acre estate tucked away in the Wicklow Mountains in Luggala.
While it is an expansive block of land and is in need of some reclamation and extensive cosmetic work, this parcel has all the basics to form an excellent grazing enterprise.
The farm has not been run intensively for many years, which has allowed natural vegetation and tress to take over. The majority of the land has the potential to be developed into top-quality grazing ground, however there is also some marginal land within the package which may be more suited to a forestry enterprise.
One thing that struck me was the character of the place, with imposing mature oak trees dotted throughout the landscape resembling what you would have seen in an old country estate. Wandering through the fields I was already planning where I would establish fences to convert these several blocks into efficient grazing paddocks, and any perspective buyer will require the same level of enthusiasm, patience and investment to unlock the undoubted potential that this land holds.
The land is divided between two locations with a derelict residence on circa 203 acres located at Kilnahinch with the remaining circa 163 acres being located 5km away at Kilcurley.
Kilnahinch
The circa 203 acre block is naturally divided into two lots by a country road with the residence on circa 105 acres located on one side of the road. A neglected 400 metre private county lane, overgrown with vegetation leads to a derelict residence. The privacy of the site would make a fabulous setting for a replacement home, subject to the appropriate planning permissions being granted. The country lane could make a magnificent entrance to any property if properly tended to.
Directly across from this is circa 99 acres which is a mixture of good grazing ground and lands more suitable for forestry production.
Kilcurley
The remaining circa 163 acres is located 5km away from the first parcel and is divided into two blocks by the M6 motorway. Circa 28 acres is located north of the motorway – what I believeto be the best quality block of the entire property. Circa 135 acres is located south of the motorway. Included in the circa 135 acres is circa 32 acres of forestry which has no remaining premium, with the remaining 103 acres laid out in large fields.
Water is supplied from the mains to all parcels. Multiple access points, coupled with excessive road frontage ensures that all parcels are easily accessible. Due to the farm’s location along the M6 Galway-Dublin motorway the potential exists for a farmer from further afield to operate this as a potential out farm.
The farm is being offered in its entirety or in lots and due to the sheer size of the property there is guaranteed to be interest from a wide range of potential farmers. The farm comes with no significant farm buildings, offering the perspective buyer the opportunity to design the farmyard to suit their desired system, starting with a blank canvass.
Reasonably priced
Land in Westmeath made an average price of just over €7,500/acre in 2016 according to the Land Price Report 2016, which makes the guide of between €4,500 to €5,000/acre very reasonably priced. Even if the potential costs involved with returning this land to its former glory are considerable, the overall cost of the project could mean that this property turns out to be a shrewd purchase. Murtagh Bros Auctioneers, Mullingar will publicly auction the farm on Friday 14 July in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar at 3pm.
For more see the property pages of this week’s Irish Farmers Journal in shops on Thursday.
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