Wicklow dairy and forestry holding for €10,000/ac

A high-quality dairy farm could go to auction later this summer if the lifting of the national lockdown permits it, reports

The land and landscape of Wicklow looks good at any time of the year, but in the last few weeks, it has been spectacular. A 113ac dairy farm near Rathdrum has some of the best of Wicklow land and includes good dairy infrastructure and a wide range of farm buildings.

Currently for sale by private treaty, auctioneers O’Neill

Flanagan hope to bring it to auction in July with a guide of €1.13m or €10,000/ac.

Located at Ballintombay

Wicklow way:

Lower, 3.7km from Rathdrum, the holding comes with €8,288.70 in entitlements representing 30.89 units.

The farm facilities include a six-unit milking parlour, a four-column slatted shed, a cubicle shed with feeding passage, two 60ft silage pits with four-column lean-tos off either side, along with a two-column hay shed.

The yard also includes a derelict house and two small outhouses.

The land has plenty of road frontage. Laid out in four divisions, it is supplied by a natural water source.

Described as well-drained, gently sloping ground of excellent quality, it is currently in grass and farmed for dairying.

The land is ideal ground that could be used as meadowing for hay and silage.

A section of 5.38ac is in forestry and commands a premium of around €1,000 or €510/ha due to continue for 11 years.

While currently under a management contract with Green Belt, on completion of the sale, the new owner will need to register and sign paperwork for Coillte to inspect the site.

If Coillte is satisfied that it is fully established and free-growing, this triggers the end of the contract with Green Belt and the forest becomes the new owner’s responsibility. There is no work required as the site is fully established as per inspection.

Golf club land

The holding can be sold as an entire or in four lots, with the first lot made up of 30ac laid out in three separate fields with the farm yard.

The second is made up of 39.5ac in five separate fields that includes the forestry, while the third parcel is an 11ac section close to the yard with frontage on to two roads.

A piece extending to 32.74ac of former golf club land with some road frontage makes up a fourth lot.

Auctioneer Pat O’Neill reports lively local interest in the place. He believes that, in its various lots, it will be attractive to a range of local farmers looking to expand their own holdings.

It could also be farmed as a standalone property and in this regard, it is attracting local and outside interest.

The existence of the derelict house in the yard could be of assistance if the new owner looks at seeking planning permission for a new house on the farm.