Bidders to line up for Kerry land block
The 107.5-acre, drystock farm has generated interest prior to the auction of Jul 24, and has been put under offer.
According to Susan O’Shea, of Scarteen’s office, a cash offer of €900,000 has been made for the farm, but it’s not being entertained, she says.
Instead, the house and lands, (of which the house is listed in the Houses of County Kerry, by Valerie Barry) will go to auction unless there’s a bridge between the current bid and the price prior to auction, which is approximately €1.25m.
Just two miles from Killorglin town and less than 12 miles from Killarney, demand, locally, for such a prime block would be good, says Michael O’Conor, and there’s been interest from UK buyers, too, he says.
Located at Lismacfinnan, Killorglin, the farm is an executor’s sale and it includes the period residence, in good condition, which has been continually lived-in since being built, either during the Famine, or earlier in the 19th century.
It is thought to have been built by the Egan family, of whom Bishop Egan, Bishop of Kerry, was a member and he is said to have been brought up on the farm.
In that case, an earlier date for the house would be correct, as the bishop ministered to his flock during the Famine, and is said to have opened the half-built cathedral, in Killarney, to the destitute.
He also built a number of Catholic schools and founded convents in the diocese, from 1824 to 1853, when he retired due to ill-health.
Lismacfineen House is a simple, five-bay property with rectangular fanlight over its original doorway and a layout that includes a T extension to the rear.
It has a hallway, living room with Stanley range, a fitted kitchen, sitting room and ground-floor shower rooms, along with four large bedrooms overhead.
Originally, a large stableyard was attached to the house, and the stone and slated buildings’ remains are in disrepair.
However, this is also seen as a major selling point, says Susan O’Shea, who says the non-existence of quality, modern farm buildings means that an eligible farmer will qualify for grants to erect new sheds.
The house is at the centre of the farm property and it can be approached via a long driveway from the road.
Its setting is very scenic, with the MacGillycuddy Reeks in the background and the Laune in the distance, and the house and yard are framed by big, old trees.
The property is all in one block, with the land wrapping around the house at its centre, which would have made each paddock accessible in the old days, before central farm roadways.
Frontage is excellent, with 700 metres onto the main Killorglin road and the land is in good condition, says Michael O’Connor.
It’s one of the biggest and best-quality farms to come to market in the region in years, he says.
Under permanent pasture, the land has been well-tended and will appeal to young farmers starting out, or farmers locally who want to expand their lands, as well as to ex-pat buyers looking for a quality property to which to return.
Either way, the property will go to auction, unless there is a significant, acceptable offer made in the meantime.
The rough price of €10,000 per acre attached to the house is borne out by a recent local sale, also held by auction.
Tom Spillane sold a 43-acre block of land, with sheds at Killorglin and with frontage onto the Laune, for a sum believed to be just over €10,000 per acre, having been withdrawn when it didn’t make its reserve.
Spillane expected a bullish, €12,500 for the land, which was part of an extended estate and included 60 acres of sheep-grazing ground and a site.
The property saw good interest and was sold for more that the final bid on the day.
