The presence of a shell of a cottage on 1ac helped drive on the price of a 32ac farm at Morette, Emo, Co Laois at online auction on Friday last, 15 November.

Hennessy Auctioneers were handling the sale of the land which was guided at €650,000. Offered in its entire or in two lots comprising of: Lot 1, 31ac of prime tillage ground and Lot 2, a derelict cottage on 1ac.

Fifteen bidders registered ahead of the event and after three rounds of bidding on the individual lots, Lot 2 reached €205,000 before the gavel fell. Lot 1 reached €670,000 before it was put on the market.

A further three bids saw the hammer fall at €730,000.

Premium price

The 32ac farm at Morette, Emo, Co Laois exceeded expectations when it sold at auction.

Combined, the property sold for €935,000 (€29,219/ac), an impressive €285,000 above its guide.

A spokesperson for Hennessy Auctioneers said: “This premium price is a reflection on the quality of the land sold and its prime location.”

The day previous, Thursday, 14 November, Hennessy’s completed the online auction of a circa 55ac non-residential farm at Vicarstown, Co Laois. Guided ahead of the sale at €750,000, it was offered online in its entire and in lots.

Lot 1 was 15.5ac of tillage ground, and Lot 2 was 39.5ac of pasture land needing drainage.

Four bidders registered and after four rounds of bidding on individual lots it was withdrawn at a combined €700,000. However, it was sold shortly afterwards to a pair of local farmers for a higher undisclosed figure.