The new owner of Eglinton Estate, Paul Connolly, outlined his plans for the 1,075-acre farm at public meeting last week.

Speaking to local residents in Eglinton, Co Derry, Connolly was keen to quash rumours that he is planning to set up an anaerobic digester (AD) plant.

“We have no plans to build an AD plant on this farm. We intend to grow crops and work with some of the local farmers who have rented the land for livestock,” he said.

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Eglinton Estate was previously owned by the late Earl Castle Stewart and was advertised for sale in June 2025 with a guide price of £9m.

In November 2025, it was confirmed that Connolly had bought the farm in its entirety for an undisclosed amount.

The Sion Mills man was a senior executive and shareholder in Donegal-based firm E&I Engineering, which was sold in 2021 in a deal reportedly worth up to £1.45bn. However, Connolly made clear at last week’s meeting that he purchased Eglinton Estate to “fulfil a lifelong ambition” to own and run a farm with his family.

“It is not a money-driven decision. It is a passion-driven decision. Hopefully over the next three to five years, that will become obvious to everyone who is familiar with what we are doing,” he said.

Under the previous ownership, Eglinton Estate had been rented out to local farmers for grazing, silage and arable crops.

Most of the lease agreements continued when Connolly bought the property last autumn, and he said it was his intention to take over management of the farm gradually.

“We want to ease ourselves into the farm. Our plan would be to farm more and more of it each year as we gain confidence in what we are doing,” he said.

Connolly said he plans to work with local agricultural contractors Killen Bros, and a planning application has been submitted for a new machinery shed and grain store on the farm.

He told local residents he has no plans to keep livestock, so organic manure will be imported to the farm to help meet crop needs and minimise chemical fertiliser use.

Connolly said human sludge, which had been spread on parts of the farm in the past, will not be used.

He also outlined plans to change public access to the estate, so vehicles can no longer be driven on private laneways without permission.