€1.25m guide price for 166 acre residential Golden Vale farm
The borders defining the area known as the Golden Vale in Munster aren’t very precisely defined but it’s fair to say that a 166-acre residential farm near the village of Ballyagran, currently listed with GVM Auctioneers, would count as being within those borders, and right in the heart of it.
That being the case, then such a large holding, all in one block, must represent a very exciting opportunity to purchase a sizeable chunk of this sought-after agricultural zone. Selling agent Richard Ryan, based at GVM’s Kilmallock office, agrees: “Yes, it’s a great opportunity to buy such an amount of land in the Golden Vale. It isn’t every day that such a substantial holding is on the market.”
The property is located in the townland of Clonee, which is approximately 1.5km west of Ballyagran. The village has facilities such as a local primary school and GAA club, while Kilmallock is located approximately 18km from the farm, and Charleville, over the border in Co Cork, is just 11km away.
“It’s a very good farm and it’s for sale either in its entirety or as two lots,” says Richard. “It’s a really fine farm with a lot of potential in it, It’s one that could be improved further by the next owners.”
The lot division is roughly down the middle of the holding: Lot 1 is an 85-acre parcel with the dwelling house, farmyard and outbuildings. Lot 2 is approximately 81 acres.
While this farm wouldn’t represent the very top quality of Golden Vale land, the quality overall is very good, according to the selling agents. Out of the total acreage, approximately 142 acres consist of permanent pasture lands, with the remaining 24 acres consisting of forestry.
The plantation is a mature one with only one year of premiums left to run. There are no entitlements otherwise.
The house, meanwhile, is a large two-storey property in need of modernisation, but which has been well maintained, according to the agents.
“The house is in good condition,” says Richard, “but it could be modernised.” The dwelling is sound and offers ample accommodation for a family and constitutes a major asset in this executor sale.
The range of farm buildings is also quite impressive.
Although they are old buildings, they also have been well kept and would be useful, although requiring upgrading. The buildings include two three-column silage pits with lean-to buildings containing 48 cubicle spaces, an open slurry pit, a five-column hay barn with lean-to, a cow house, an old milking parlour, a cattle crush, and ancillary out-offices.
“All the buildings would have been built about 45 or 50 years ago without any recent additions,” Richard clarifies.
The property lends itself very well to being sub-divided, as it enjoys an impressive stretch of road frontage on its southern boundary.
“The Creggan River flows through part of the property, on the western side.
Finally, as Richard explains, there is another string to this property’s bow that may interest potential purchasers with an eye to another commercial direction: “There was a gravel pit on the farm previously, and there would still be gravel deposits on the land.”
There is a private water supply, as well as mains water.
The guide price being quoted by the selling agents is €1,250,000. At €7,500 per acre, this is as reasonable as one would care to get for such a comprehensive package of good land in the Golden Vale. Demand for larger holdings seems to have hardened over the last few years, generally speaking, and the sale of this farm will set an interesting marker for the year to come.
