The agricultural land market has certainly kicked off early this year with campaigns for a number of scheduled auctions for February well underway, while final preparations are being made to those in March.

Adriana Hegarty from Hegarty Properties, Midleton, has two such farms for sale by auction, both scheduled for 26 February next.

The first is an 87-acre residential unit complete with c.€7,000 of entitlements situated at Ballycroneen West, Cloyne, Co Cork. This property has been in the same family for generations and its sale – along with a further 53 acres located at Churchtown South – certainly offers a unique opportunity to acquire land in the Cloyne region.

A large portion of the farm at Ballycroneen was let out for tillage over the years, while the remainder was retained by the owner who had a wonderful interest in cattle and sheep. The land itself is laid out in easily-worked fields that are accessed from a farm roadway and it is currently in tillage and grass.

While some of the land is elevated which offers tremendous sea views overlooking Ballybrannigan beach, a further c.four acres would benefit from some attention. Water is supplied naturally from a stream.

The property comes to the market with a three-bedroom bungalow residence in need of upgrading, as well as a range of traditional farm buildings that include a hay shed, loose-bedded cattle shed, a silage pit and a derelict stone cottage with stone outbuildings.

For sale in one lot only, the auction takes place in the Midleton Park Hotel on Wednesday, 26 February, at 3.30pm. A guide in the region of €8,000 to €10,000 is quoted.

53 acres at

Churchtown South

Also on the same day and belonging to the same owner is a 53-acre non-residential farm situated at Ballywilliam, Churchtown South, Cloyne, Co Cork.

This farm has been rented out for tillage and grazing for many years and is partly accessed by a shared right of way.

Overlooking the ocean, the land is set out in three blocks – all within close proximity to each other – and offers fabulous sea views. It also features substantial road frontage and has c. four acres that require some attention.

There are no entitlements or services on the land but it is described as “very good quality”.

For sale in one lot only, the property also goes to auction on 26 February in the Midleton Park Hotel and is also guided in the region of €8,000 to €10,000/acre. Both farms are genuine sale opportunities and, according to the agent, it’s her intention to sell them on the day, if at all possible.

Apart from local interest, there have also been a number of viewers from outside the east Cork region in recent weeks who are seeking to acquire an outlying farm.

The joint agent for both properties is Cronin Wall Properties, Midleton.