Mullingar-based, James L. Murtagh Auctioneers has a superb residential farm for sale on the Westmeath/Meath border just a week before Christmas Day.

Described as one of the finest farms to come on the market this year, the 107ac holding at Ballyhealy, Delvin, Co Westmeath has been utilised as a tillage and grassland farm in recent years but previously a dairy enterprise was operated here and the remains of it could be brought back to life relatively easily.

The fact that the land is in one block may also be an enticing factor in seeing this farm return to milk production.

There is enough dairy infrastructure in place to get the same enterprise back in action with the remains of a six-unit milking parlour present and a dairy containing a bulk tank.

Close by, there is a cubicle shed with 22 spaces and a central roadway allows for efficient movement of livestock throughout the farm.

This highly productive limestone land is laid out in 11 neat divisions and mature hedgerows form the boundaries between them. The lands benefit from dual road frontage and were ploughed in the past. Two fields are currently in stubble while the remaining land is in permanent pasture.

Old and new

The 107ac residential farm is all in one block.

The yard is a mix of old and new buildings with a large newly built enclosed machinery shed with roller doors the most recently constructed. That sits close to a number of traditional stone buildings which contain a calf housing, a tool shed and chemical store. There is ample concrete space suitable for storing bales along with cattle handling facilities and a meal bin.

As good as the lands are, the presence of slurry storage in the yard should also appeal to prospective buyers. A four-bay slatted shed and a slatted house with 18 cubicle spaces are a good starting point from a slurry perspective. Complementing these, there is also a four-bay dry bedded shed.

There is an old six-unit milking parlour and bulk tank on site.

The farmhouse is a bungalow extending to 1,451sq ft that has five bedrooms. The accommodation also includes a kitchen, living room and bathroom. The house and yard are set back from the main road and benefit from electric gates. Bridging the gap between the residence and the yard, there is a derelict residence which should qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

It is constructed from stone which has plenty character and close by there are the remains of a walled garden, which still has two of its original walls intact.

Just 4km from the N52 road, this property is 12km from Athboy and 23km from Mullingar. It is guided in the region of €1.5m to €1.6m.

The auction takes place on 18 December at at 3.30pm in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar and online on the LSL Auctions platform.