Dairy big-hitters dig deep for Roscommon holdings
WEST of the Shannon, auctioneer John Earley sold two large Roscommon farms under the hammer last week, netting a total of €2.6m and averaging over €8,000/ac.
The first farm to sell was a 168ac non-residential holding at Rathconnor, Fourmilehouse. The property comes with a huge array of modern sheds and farming facilities, €25,000 per annum in payments and a farm with land in perfect condition.
At auction, the property opened at a strong €1.2m, with four bidders in the chase — 12 bids later, the hammer fell at €1.8m, delivering a per acre price of €10,714. The successful bidder was a solicitor from the south of the country and, according to Mr Early, the main interest in the farm came from southern dairy farmers. Mr Earley also sold another farm in Fourmilehouse, a 150ac non-residential holding in the townsland of Grange.
Located 13km from Roscommon town, the farm is all in one block in 18 divisions and while the majority of the land is described as fine grazing ground, a smaller part fronts on to a local lake where it is a bit softer.
The ground was reseeded, paddocked, watered and fenced in recent years, and serviced by an internal roadway. The facilities are spread over two yards with cattle handling facilities in both.
At auction, the 150ac property opened at €600,000 and attracted five bidders. It went on the market at €810,000 and sold for €830,000 or over €5,500/ac to a Boyle solicitor acting in trust.