Traditional Laois farm makes €18,000 per acre

A RESIDENTIAL farm extending to 47.3ac at Ballythomas, Stradbally in Co Laois sold in lots at auction last week making a total of €880,000 or €18,604/ac.

Located 5km from Stradbally and 10km from Portlaoise, the property includes an old two-storey farmhouse residence, traditional farm buildings and 47.3ac of good ground in tillage and grazing.

The house extends to 1,681 sq ft and dates back to the 1800s. In need of modernisation, it has two principal rooms downstairs and three bedrooms with a bathroom upstairs, along with a basement area.

The yard is traditional and made up of two stone outbuildings. The lands are in a mix of crops and grazing with good road frontage and water supplied by a local group water scheme.

The place was offered in up to five lots, but interest focussed on two on the day of the auction — the residence and outbuildings on 5.6ac making up one, while the remaining 41.7ac of land made up the other.

The house on 5.6ac attracted three bidders when it opened at €150,000. It went on the market at €225,000 and sold under the hammer for €235,000. It was bought by a Laois buyer.

The 41.7ac of land opened at €620,000 having been offered in a number of lots. With two bidders in the chase, it moved quickly and went on the market at €645,000. It sold at that price to a local farmer.