From the outset, it was expected that a lovely 63-acre residential farm at Model Farm, Killane, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, would sell well given the infrequency of land for sale in the vicinity coupled with the calibre of the property that was on offer.

This expectation clearly lived up to its name at last week’s public auction in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, when auctioneer David Quinn, Gorey and Carnew, dropped the hammer at €950,000 or almost €15,100/acre before a packed auction room of over 100 people.

On the day, David offered the property in three separate lots and in its entirety.

After three initial rounds of bidding, the lots arrived at a combined figure of €785,000 while the entire had progressed to €800,000. After consultation with the owner, David announced that the farm was on the market and invited further offers on the lots and the entire.

Following this, a further four more rounds of bidding saw the lots peak at €930,000 – these included the house and yard on circa 39 acres which was bid to €610,000, a 16.4-acre block making €220,000 while the remaining circa 7.5 acres across the road went to €100,000. All the way along, the entire continuously topped the lots and at a final bid of €950,000, the hammer soon dropped to an auctioneer who was acting in trust.

It’s believed he was acting on behalf of a number of neighbouring farmers, including the tenants who were renting the property over the past 10 years.

This works out at almost €15,100/acre, which certainly represents the upper end of the market but was clearly reflective of the fact that land in the Killane/Caim/Kiltealy area rarely comes to the market.

In the past, the Killane farm was a renowned dairy operation in the area and was regularly used as a model holding to stage farm walks. The property came to the market with a three-bed residence, a range of farm buildings that included two slatted cubicle sheds, and 63 acres of excellent quality land, much of which is still laid out in paddocks that are serviced by a range of farm roadways.

90-acre farm in Kilkenny makes €13,000/acre

From the outset, last week’s auction of a 90-acre non-residential farm at Ennisnag, Stoneyford, Co Kilkenny, was set to command a healthy level of local interest, which was reflected in the auction room.

On the day, selling agent Ed Donohoe from Donohoe Town & Country, Kilkenny, opened the bidding at €700,000. With three primary parties in contention, the sale price steadily progressed to €1m, at which stage Ed was instructed to declare the farm on the market. However, this didn’t seem to deter any of the active bidders and it took a further €170,000 before the hammer finally fell at €1,170,000 to an accountant who was believed to be acting for a local farmer. One of the underbidders was a person originally from the area while the third person was unknown. This works out at exactly €13,000/acre.

A former dairy farm, the land has been mostly used in recent years for tillage with circa 70 acres currently in tillage, 15 acres in grass and five acres in forestry (which was originally planted as a shelter belt). Accessed from a cul de sac, the property has limited road frontage and came with an old milking parlour and a slatted shed.

It’s suggested that the single block of 90 acres was what appealed most to potential buyers.

42 acres on outskirts

of Goresbridge

Meanwhile, the same agent will auction a 42-acre parcel of tillage land on the outskirts of Goresbridge on 28 October. The property, which comes with circa four acres of a registered disused limestone quarry, features circa 38 acres of the “best of land” and has access onto two roads. Situated off the Gowran road, the property is guided at €10,000 to €12,000/acre and will be auctioned in The Club House Hotel, Kilkenny, at 3pm on 28 October.