Young farmer pays €910,000 for impressive Birr house and 90 acres

Although it looks like it was built in the 1800s, this house at Carrig, Birr, Co Offaly, was actually designed and constructed in the 1980s by a well known local architect.

And, according to auctioneer John Ryan, it’s one of the best designed houses he’s been in — and that’s with many properties under his belt.

But the house, for all its qualities, was only a sideshow to the main event, the auction of the 90-acre tillage and grazing farm on which the house sits, that took place last week.