34.5-acre residential holding for sale 4km from Cahir

For Clonmel-based auctioneers REA Stokes & Quirke, the year ended very well, with the auction of a 13-acre residential holding located just outside Cahir, in the townland of Rochestown.

As with any public auction, it all depends on who turns up on the day.

In this case, there was already strong and broad public interest in the property, which was very well situated in relation to the town.

That made it just as attractive to non-farmers as to farmers.

The modest acreage also made it conducive to the ‘hobby farmer’ end of the agricultural spectrum.

It was primed, therefore, for the possibility of a battle between clients of a purely farming interest and those who were interested in the holding primarily as a residence.

As it turned out, this was condensed into a battle between representatives from each camp.

“There was a big crowd on the day,” says selling agent John Stokes, who carried out the auction at the Cahir House Hotel on December 13.

“The property had a small two-bedroom house in need of complete modernisation, it didn’t have a bathroom.

“In the end, it made a very strong price, €260,000, or €20,000 per acre.

“We were delighted with that.”

The land, he points out, was of very good quality, and very level, and therefore suited to any agricultural activity.

“There were only three parties that bid on the day and then two of them went hammer-and-tongs at it.

“One was a local farmer, and the other was a local person who wanted to buy it for a lifestyle holding.” In the end, it was the latter client who placed the winning bid.

A 34.5-acre residential holding has just come on the market with REA Stokes & Quirke, and is being sold by private treaty.

Located in the townland of Ballydrehid, approximately 4km from the centre of Cahir, the farm features another house in need of some modernisation and is also sure to attract a good deal of attention, both from full-time farmers and from those looking for a slice of the “Good Life”.

“It’s a pretty good quality farm,” says John.

“It’s good grazing land, with a small bit of forestry with it.

“There’s a house with it which is in good condition for an old house.

“It has oil central heating and PVC windows.

It just needs a bit of modernisation, and it might make a nice lifestyle holding for someone.

Approximately 2.5 acres of the land is currently devoted to forestry, with the remainder under grass and laid out in nine well-fenced fields.

The lands are free-draining and renowned for their fattening qualities.

There is plenty of road frontage too, with the N24 (the main Limerick-Tipperary road) forming part of the boundary.

The house is a two-storey three-bedroom residence.

“As well as the afore-mentioned oil-fired heating and modern windows, there is also an alarm fitted.

Accommodation includes an entrance hall, kitchen [with built-in units], back kitchen [plumbed for washing machine], sitting room, bathroom and three bedrooms [one with ensuite bathroom]

In addition, there is a large array of outbuildings, including a single-storey former residence.

So far, the agents say, there have been a few enquiries about the property, but it is early to tell how it’s going to go.

The guide price is set at between €8,000 and €10,000 per acre.

This is a realistic price that’s very much reflective of the quality of the land and the current state of the market.

However, when it comes down to it, it is never possible to predict with any certainty how things are going to pan out when it comes to the crunch.

There may yet be enough interest in this fine holding to render the price guide very conservative.