It will be interesting to see what parties flag interest in the 200 acres that have come up for sale in Cork. On two occasions in the county this summer, land parcels over 100 acres have sold to businessmen.

The first of these was 101 acres near Glen South, sold to Frank Murphy of Glen South Farm and Monex for circa €900,000. The 101 acres near Douglas sold for €5.8m or €58,000/acre at auction in June. This was believed to be bought by a well-known company from the west of Ireland.

There has also been reports of another substantial holding in east Cork being bought by a prominent business power over the summer, however this has been unconfirmed.

Given this trend, it is hard to see the 200 acres at Wallstown, near Castletownroche in Mallow, going any other way but into the hands of another business player. This analysis is also based off the guide. €2.8m is the reserve for this holding, and while substantial, the interest generated so far for the holding, as well as the quality it possesses, would suggest that it is somewhat appropriate.

The 200 acres are guided for €2.5m and are located at Wallstown, Castletownroche, Mallow, Co Cork.

This sentiment is shared by Michael O’Donavan of Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan Fermoy. Speaking with Irish Country Living, he explained that he expects the property to make or exceed the guide.

“In terms of size, there has been very little properties like this in the area. We would expect it to sell at or in excess of the guide, considering it is one of the best blocks of land for its size in the county for quite some time,” the auctioneer said.

The lands

The reasoning for O’Donovan’s confidence is the quality of land here. Of the total 200 acres, there is very little waste, with a few acres of a heavier nature. The arable land is currently laid out in tillage. For a potential purchaser, it would suit just about any enterprise. Laid out in all one block, it is largely level ground with a “southerly-facing aspect to it”.

The property has road frontage onto three roads, including the main N72. This north Cork farm has been in tillage for the last number of years and is being sold by a farmer who is looking to purchase another holding elsewhere.

The sale also includes a 10,000 sq ft open-plan modern farm building suitable for conversion to any number of farm uses, the auctioneer states.

Offered by private treaty, the outcome of this sale will be interesting, not least due to the number of potential businesspeople who may compete for it.

Interest so far has come from within Cork itself, Kerry, Tipperary and one party from the midlands.