Prime tillage land is back on the market

The summer is past, the harvest is home and the mind turns to future plans, perhaps? Like acquiring a 140-acre farm renowned for its quality and location.

Ballygiblin House, which first appeared in late spring, is re-launched with Joe McCarthy of Irish and European after a busy, but fruitful summer.

The prime tillage land in North Cork was once part of a 20,000 acre estate owned by the Beechers of Beechers’ Brook fame and parts of this land at Ceciltown includes a derelict property and a habitable farmhouse.

Ballygiblin House stands on 57.5 hectares or 140 acres and is within 15 minutes of Mallow town and Cork racecourse, which could attract equestrian buyers too, because apart from the Beecher connection, this area has a strong link with the racehorse industry; the house and lands were formerly used as a stud farm.

According to Joe McCarthy the land is all-purpose ground, suitable for dairying, tillage or horse breeding.

“The land is laid out in easily managed divisions andcurrently in tillage it would make an excellent stud farm.

“The original limestone stable block and associated buildings comprise a courtyard with 14 loose boxes, coach house, tack room — and the former groom’s quarters are all still in situ.

“The property is approached by a sweeping avenue through an imposing cut-limestone entrance and commands excellent views of the surrounding countryside,” he says.

The main farmhouse “has good accommodation, with good space”, he adds, and comes with an entrance hall, drawing room, sitting room, kitchen/ breakfast room, utility room and a study. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and a main bathroom in a comfortable arrangement of rooms. The house, he says, would offer immediate access for an extended farming family.

The property is on the market by private treaty with Joe McCarthy of Irish & European, who is jointly selling the significant land holding with Ganly Walters.

With land in the area fetching sums in the region of €13,000 to €15,000 per acre, Joe McCarthy expects keen interest from dairy and tillage farmers and also, stud farms, for this easily managed, well-located single block farm; total guide price is in the region of €2 million. Following on recent sales, that kind of money would not be out of the ordinary for land of this quality — expecially as demand continues to be strong in Cork county.

In the heart of Duhallow hunting country and in an area long associated with horse breeding and training —particularly national hunt horses— and as the former seat of the Beechers, acquiring Ballygiblin demesne would give added resonance to a stud farm equestrian purchase of the property.