Muscraí farm has mixed grazing

CORK auctioneer J J Hinchion has a number of farms on his books at the moment, and the largest of them is in the Muscraí Gaeltacht.

Coomlibane, Renanirree, is a 244-acre holding of mixed grazing and it comes with a traditional, two-story farmhouse and old outbuildings.

Set between Inchigeela and Renanirree, the farm has about 70 acres of pasture land, with the rest in rough grazing.

There has been some interest, says the agent, especially from forestry companies (a plantation already adjoins the farm).

With Gaeltacht grants for the refurbishment of houses in the area, the main farm house could be more easily restored as a family home.

This holding might also appeal to new-agers looking for a homestead far from the madding crowd.

For the guide price of €200,000, the price of a “two-up, two-down” in Cork city, idealists could have their own rocky spread in an unspoiled area perfect for organic grazing.

Returns from farming would be hard won, but the land is within the disadvantaged area.

Sherry FitzGerald Hinchion also have another farm with disadvantaged status at Ballinagree East, Macroom.

Here, there are 64 acres, a slatted unit, a cubicle shed for up to 20 head, and a two-storey farm house.

The residence needs repairs, but the land is good quality, south-facing grazing, says Mr Hinchion, who hopes to achieve €4,500 to €5,000 per acre for both this farm and a 43 acres roadside holding at Rahalisk, Macroom, also under pasture, in one block, with a large shed and lean-to.

According to Tom Heffernan of SF Hinchion, there is less land for sale available this season.

He believes that farmers prefer to work through the current uncertain conditions in the market, and the CAP reform uncertainty.

However, what land is available is selling well, he said, following a very positive auction result which recently saw a 133 acre holding in Inchigeela go well over the guide price of €180,000.

It eventually sold for €260,000 to an individual starting out in beef farming.