A farm for all seasons

Tillage and livestock farmers as well as equestrian buyers will be keen on a 246ac farm new to the market in Wexford, writes Jim O’Brien

IFOUND myself in the sunny south east on Friday afternoon, and while much of the country was cowering under Storm Erik it was pleasant and almost spring-like in Wexford.

After attending a successful auction in Enniscorthy where land made over €15,600/ac, my journey took me to Clonegal not far from Bunclody on the Wexford side of the border with Carlow.

The goal of my visit was a 246ac residential, grass, equine and tillage farm with a guide price of €2.3m to €2.5m, which is being handled by auctioneer David Quinn in a private treaty.

Clonogan House is a superb property with road frontage on multiple sides, frontage on the River Derry, undulating tillage and grazing ground, an extensive yard with buildings in excellent condition and a seven-bedroom house built in 1825.

The house is perched on a hillock with lovely views across the Slaney valley.

The residence has had numerous extensions over the years and the end result includes a range of modest but comfortable rooms with plenty of character.

The ground floor accommodation includes an entrance porch and an entrance hall along with a living room, dining room, kitchen, a bedroom and two WCs. Upstairs are seven bedrooms and the family bathroom.

The yards include an array of well-maintained sheds the extent of which I have rarely seen in one yard.

In all there are 11 roundroofed sheds, four lean-tos and two stable blocks. The houses are suitable for a wide range of uses including livestock, fodder and machinery storage.

The farm was run as a successful beef and equestrian holding.

The current owners concentrated on thoroughbreds, keeping quality breeding mares. The equine facilities include 13 large stables, a horse shed and a six animal horse walker.

The land is in great order, with up to 220ac of the best of ground, and a smaller area that

Pasture

The farm is divided by the public road in a number of places but the main part is a 160ac portion around the house and yards.

A parcel of 58ac is located across the road from this fronting the River Derry, a tributary of the Slaney. A further 24ac with road frontage includes the old sandpit.

At present 60ac of the land is in stubble, with the remainder in permanent pasture.

The lands around the house and yard are divided into a range of paddocks fenced with post and rail fencing.

The farm is available to be bought in a number of lots, all divided by the public road, giving double road frontage in many places.

The first lot is a 104ac portion that includes the house and yards.

The second lot comprises 58ac along with a one-third share in 23ac of forestry, while a third lot is also made up of around 58ac.

The last lot is a 24ac parcel with the sandpit.