Auction action heats up but outcomes vary
ACTION is reaching fever pitch in the auction rooms these days and the results are varied.
Beginning in Co Mayo, auctioneer Karl Fox brought to auction a 32ac parcel of ground located at the northern end of Lough Carrowkeribly between Ballina and Foxford. In three plots of agricultural land totalling 32ac, the property was bid to €120,000 before it was withdrawn. Negotiations with the highest bidder are ongoing.
Located 6km from Ballina, the three plots of land were totally reclaimed, ploughed and reseeded by the current owner.
The first parcel, an 11ac piece of ground on the banks of Lough Carrowkeribly at Attymass, has a kilometre of road frontage and a kilometre of lake frontage.
In pasture, it has excellent fencing, a new cattle pen, handling facilities and new gates. On the day, this opened at €45,000 and was bid to €50,000 before it was held.
The second parcel, totalling 13ac, is located at the northernmost tip of the lake. Described as quality ground with good road frontage, it is surrounded by mature hedgerow and includes a cattle pen.
At auction, this opened at €35,000 and held.
The final plot was an 8ac field of decent pasture with excellent hedgerow and road frontage. This opened at €30,000 and held. With €115,000 on board for the lots, Mr Fox put the entire to the floor and this was bid to €120,000 when it was withdrawn and is under active negotiation.
Kildare/Wicklow border
Moving right across the country to the Kildare/Wicklow border, Eamonn O’Flaherty of Property Partners Brady sold a 72ac farm after auction for a figure believed to be in the region of €6,000/ac.
The property, located at Glenmore and Eleverstown, 5km from both Ballymore Eustace and Blessington, is described as good quality ground, suitable for any agricultural use, especially livestock or bloodstock.
The place was to be offered in two lots with the first comprising c.21.5ac and the second extending to c.50.5ac on the opposite side of the public road. On the day, the interest was in the entire which opened at €350,000, and with three bidders in the chase, it moved swiftly to €400,000 and was withdrawn.
After auction negotiations began and it was sold to the highest bidder, a solicitor believed to be acting for a local farmer, for a considerably higher figure. Eamon O’Flaherty of Property Partners Brady Maynooth, in conjunction with agricultural consultant Sean Doyle, handled the sale.
Mr O’Flaherty was happy with the result. However, he said that many farmers in the locality were interested in the land but failed to get support from their banks.