After record sale, impressive farm changes hands quietly

All’s well that ends well. The Clash of the Titans that took place over Caherduggan Demesne in Leamlara, east Cork, was quietly settled in a complete turnabout this week.

It now appears that underbidders, the Cremin family, have bought the 280-acre dairy farm from purchaser, Denis Crowley, in a quiet sale.

Depending on who one talks to, the vendor either lost or made money in the transaction, but the sums involved are minimal in comparison to the reputed €4.7m paid by Crowley for the Kingston family farm in the early part of this year.

The property went on the market at €4m last September and a substantial offer was made within a week.

A month later the farm was sold, and while Denis Crowley took possession of the title, it appears that the Cremins will now move into the modern dairy farm with its 229,000 gallons of quota.

Both the Crowley and Cremins won the development lottery in the early 2000s with sales of €40m and €30m made, respectively, by the farming families.

Crowley sold to John Barry of Castlelands in Mallow, amongst other deals, and the Cremins sold to Michael O’Flynn at Ballinglanna, Glanmire.

O’Flynn construction purchased the Glanbia farm at Castlelyons for the Cremins in a swap/sale deal, along with a neighbouring farm.

However, the Cremins had set their sights on returning closer to their old base and the Caherduggan Demesne in Leamlara, fitted the bill.

In the heel of the hunt there must have been an honest assessment of the true worth of the property and a deal was done.