Farm for sale at bloodstock epicentre of North Cork
If the pub-quiz question ever comes up “Where in Ireland did Napoleon Bonaparte buy his horse?” the answer is to be found in North Cork, in an area which many see as one of the original epicentres of the world-famous Irish bloodstock industry.
Although farming is very mixed in the area around Buttevant and Doneraile, any of its many dairying and grain farmers will tell you that this part of Ireland is steeped in equine tradition.
Back in the 18th century, this was the Mecca for all those who wanted to see the very best in horses and everything to do with them and the aforementioned Little General is said to have bought his horse ‘Marengo’ in Buttevant.
It was here too that the very first point-to-point races were held when, in 1752, a certain Mr Blake challenged his neighbour Mr O’Callaghan to a horse race from the point of the steeple of the church in Buttevant to that of the church at Doneraile — a distance of 4½ miles, or 7¼km in today’s measurements.
At the southern (Cork) end of Buttevant, where the road turns for Doneraile, a 25-acre residential farm is new to the market with Blarney-based auctioneer Dan Fleming.
According to the selling agent, although this property has good quality land that will lend itself to any farming enterprise, its facilities (most notably those of the house and the stables) mark it out as being more likely to become the property of someone with an interest in the equine, or as a hobby farm or small-scale residential holding.
“It’s very close to the town itself, nearly within walking distance,” says Dan, who points out that Buttevant is now thankfully sporting a smooth new road after a prolonged period of road works.
“There’s a most beautiful house in it, as well as stables and automatic entrance gates and a very nice bit of land with it.
“There are about 25 and a half acres with it. It would be ideal for someone who wanted to keep horses or run some other enterprise.”
The proximity of the main Cork-Limerick road is an added advantage either for someone using the property primarily as a residence and working in one of the two main Munster cities, or for the fact that the proximity to markets for farming produce is so convenient.
The house is a high-quality two-storey residence that was built a couple of decades ago.
The modern family home is impressive with four bedrooms, two of them with ensuite bathroom.
Accommodation includes an entrance hall, lounge, sunroom, kitchen, utility room, downstairs toilet, bathroom and floored attic.
The house is also complimented by what the agents describe as a “beautifully landscaped gardens.”
“The house is very impressive from the outside, particularly as you’re driving up to it.”
All the outbuildings are set apart from the house with mature hedging demarcating them from the residential zone. They include seven stables, a hay shed and machinery shed.
The land itself is of good quality and fronts onto two public roadways. The quality of the house and buildings combined is such that it can overshadow such a strong asset in itself.
With water and electricity on hand, the 25+ acres have the potential to be turned to dairying or arable land by the next owner.
According to the selling agent, it’s a property that should have no difficulty in making somewhere in the region of €450,000.
A lot will depend on who ends up doing the buying of this interesting property.
One could easily argue that such a price would only cover the cost of the house, but if two or more bidders put an equal value in the house and the land that comes with it, the final price could change significantly.
