Prime land sale to attract big interest

The largest land deal in Co Cork in 2004 was the acquisition of 180 acres, close to Mallow town, by developer John Barry, of Castlelands Construction, when he paid a record €40m for level tillage ground off St Joseph’s Road.

Mr Barry, a farmer-turned-builder, purchased land from his neighbour, Denis Crowley, in a location that made sense at that time — it was on the town boundary for Mallow.

Now, it looks likely that the vendor, Mr Crowley, could become the purchaser of the same land, which has a price of €2.25m.