Applebe farm sells for almost €2m

There was much excitement last week at the auction of a well-known farm at Dawstown, Blarney, Co Cork.

The 176-acre Applebe family farm, which hosted point-to-point races for years, finally went to auction after a long lead-in — a strategy to allow prospective purchasers time to get financing before the auction date.

With farms of this size — and with the prospect of big money — the number of real bidders was supposed to be few, but 20 were in the fray at one stage, said Eamonn O’Brien, of GVM, who, along with colleague Tom Kelly from the Midleton office, handled the sale.