Million an acre for Cork farm

LIQUID milk producers, the Burke family of Ballincollig, Co Cork, have sold 30 acres of land for €30 million to West Cork building firm Murnane and O’Shea.

The €30 million package included a prime tillage and grazing farm at Springfield, Belgooly, which had been purchased by the building firm for a sum reputed to be in excess of €4 million.

The Burke lands at Ballincollig were divided by the new Ballincollig bypass, having been partly included in the large-scale Compulsory Purchase Order for that road development. The family, who are thought to have farmed 200 acres at one stage, have seen the value of their holding shoot up.