Unbeatable combination at Raffeen House and farm
Raffeen House, a genuine period Georgian home of substance, on a 112 acre dairy farm with a milk quota of more than 60,000 gallons, is on the market with Joe and Trevor McCarthy of Irish and European Real Estate Alliance.
No guide price is quoted, but it could sell for close to 3m.
Vendors are Olan and Sheila Kelleher, who bought it 20 years ago and moved here from a previous farm they ran nearby at Crosshaven.
It might suit a gentleman farmer or a professional keen for an estate type life within a 15 minute drive of Cork city, but this farm will have instant appeal to real farmers if they can rise to the price level, which would be no problem for those Cork land-owners who became multi-millionaires thanks to the new county development plan and its rezonings. Having sold land at very high development prices, many of them have since gone back into the property market hunting for farms within and beyond the country boundaries.
Recent significant Munster farm sales have seen 20,000 to 30,000 per acre paid for large farms: a Passage West, Cork farmer, William Ahern, paid 9.55m for a 388 acre Tipperary farm, Synone House, this month, after netting 17 to 20m when he sold his Passage farm to developers.
The Cotter family, who sold land to the same developers, O'Brien and O'Flynn, in Douglas for over 20m, bought a Minane Bridge farm for about 6m from the family of Simon Coveney, TD, in a deal brokered by Irish and European, and the same agents also sold a 100 acre farm at Farran West View for about 2m, or 20,000 an acre.
Now, Raffeen House is a prize to secure, with the best house of all, and a location eight miles south of Cork city, near Ringaskiddy, Carrigaline and Douglas.
With extensive south facing views, glimpses towards Cork Harbour to the east, the early 1800s residence has very large reception rooms, eight bedrooms, a two-bedroomed staff annexe and mature trees and boundaries, plus a long private approach avenue.
There are old stone courtyard buildings, and a dairy yard with a nine unit milking parlour, cubicles for 90 cows, calf pens, slatted unit, machinery houses and loose cattle sheds.
Initially offered by private treaty, it is likely to go to auction in the New Year, if interest comes forward as expected. "It offers buyers the chance to acquire a very genuine Georgian residence, within 15 minutes drive of the city. The house and lands have an excellent position and future, with possible long-term development potential, and viewing's a must for discerning purchasers looking for a quality home with land," said Joe McCarthy.
