IFA legend’s home farm up for auction

THERE has been strong activity in the farmland market in counties Monaghan and Cavan in recent months, writes Jim O’Brien.

Among the farms coming to auction in the immediate future is a 158ac farm, straddling the Meath border with Cavan.

Located primarily at Glanadara and spread out among a number of townslands between Bailieboro and Kingscourt on Lough an Lae Mountain, the holding originally belonged to legendary NFA and IFA man Phil Reilly. It comes to auction with a guide price of €5,000 to €6,000/ac.

Phil Reilly was a life-long farmer activist taking part in the 1965 to 1967 Farmers Rights Campaign.

In 1966, following the famous Farmers’ March to Dublin the campaign moved from marching to blocking bridges and Phil was among the farmers jailed for refusing to pay court fines.

He served time in Portlaoise and Mountjoy and after his release he continued to be active in farming politics. He passed away last March.

The major part of Phil’s home farm is being sold at auction later in the month while it is expected that the homestead and 92ac will be brought to auction in spring 2018.

The land is described by Oldcastle auctioneer John V Farrelly as a mixture of upland and lower ground suitable for drystock or sheep and also suitable for forestry or renewable energy.

It has plenty of access with good road frontage to many of the plots.

The farm will be offered for sale in a total of seven lots varying in size from 47ac to 1.6ac. The auction takes place at the Bailie Hotel, Bailieborough at 3pm on Thursday, November 23.

CASTLEBLAYNEY AUCTION

Across the county boundary in Monaghan auctioneer Raymond Fee is bringing a 43ac farm to auction at Castleblayney. While there is no exact guide price according to Mr Fee land in this area has been making about €10,000/ac.

Located at Tullycoora and Tullyhattna, Drumacrib, Castleblayney, the holding is just off the R182 road from Oram to Newtownhamilton.

The land is accessed from the road and includes a range of old farm buildings and a derelict dwelling. In permanent pasture the farm is in the main made up of elevated ground laid out in nine good sized divisions with excellent lake views and views over the surrounding countryside.

Mr Fee says the land was not farmed to its potential in recent years being extensively rather than intensively farmed.

“I expect it to attract a lot of attention given its size,” the auctioneer explains. “A 43ac parcel would be a good-sized parcel for the land market in these parts. Generally the farmland portions sold here are around 10 to 20ac.”

The place will be sold at auction on Monday, December 11 at 3pm at the Oldcoach Inn, Your Street, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.

BORDER HOLDING

Staying in Monaghan the same auctioneer is handling the sale of an 18ac farm located near Scotshouse about 8km from Clones and on the border with Armagh. The property is for sale by private treaty with a guide price of between €6,000 and €8,000/ac

Located about 2km from Scotshouse the land has been reseeded in recent times and is described by the auctioneer as free draining ground, for the most part.

Laid out in 12 small fields with good traditional fencing, it is is all in pasture.

The property is divided into two parcels by a public roadway giving plenty of road frontage to a 4ac parcel at one side and a 14ac parcel at the other. It will be offered for sale as an entire or in its two lots of 4ac and 14ac respectively.

Mr Fee says the 4ac piece may have site potential if granted the requisite planning permission.