Just who will make a play for a residential 13.5-acre holding at Milleenanig, adjacent to the rugby club in Dunmanway?

Ganly Walters have just released their findings in a national land-price survey, outlining the trends in prices paid for agricultural land throughout last year.

It will be fascinating to see the outcome of an auction on the 30th of this month comprising what is described as a holding of 11.5 acres of “top class” agricultural land.

<b>Conor Power </b>assesses the level of demand for agricultural land.

Located within a stone’s throw of the wide, straight N20, between Cork City and Mallow, a residential, 90-acre holding in the townland of Ballyvaloon is listed with Daniel Fleming Auctioneer, of Blarney. 

Property in the area north of Blarney and Tower is as sought after by people looking to invest as it is by those looking for more land on which to farm - particularly for those parcels of land that come in the more bank-friendly sizes of between 20 and 50 acres.

Prime agricultural land located about 2km from the booming Cork satellite town of Carrigtwohill always has the potential to realise a price in excess of its agricultural value.

Property in the Carrigtwohill area is much sought-after for its superb location.

An 80-acre holding on the outskirts of Newmarket town is offering what appears to be very good value for money.

Access these days is an increasingly important factor when it comes to farm sales. 

Good quality land keeps appearing on the market these days, but it’s still rare enough that a top-quality residential holding such as this one near Blarney makes its way onto the market.“

Exceptional is the only word for it

Situated in mid-Cork and only 1.5km from the Kerry Road, near the village of Donoughmore, is a 27-acre holding laid out in what agent Daniel Fleming, in Blarney, describes as “young grass” (recently re-seeded).

Hodnettt Forde Auctioneers, in Clonakilty, have good reason to be bullish about a 13-acre residential holding for which offers have already been made.

An interesting pair of properties has just been listed with Killian Lynch Auctioneers in Macroom, straddling both ends of the spectrum in terms of size.

Another sizeable chunk of Munster land is sure to attract plenty of attention at a public auction to be held on November 26 at Cahir House Hotel, Co Tipperary.

As the end of the year approaches and with the end of the milk quota restrictions just around the corner, the hunger for good pasture land is being felt in all parts, as illustrated by the case of a 28- acre holding fresh to the market with Dunmanway-based Lehane & Associates.

Two properties that originally formed one entity are new to the market and being sold separately with Fermoy-based Collins O’Meara Auctioneers. 

The Greek tragedy being played out in the high profile disposal of the goods and chattels of Irish businessman Anthony O’Reilly sees his primary Irish residence newly on the market.

Up for grabs in a number of lots is a farm of land at Knockaniska, Ballyduff Upper, Co Waterford.

“It’s as good as you’d put your feet on — you’d walk it in your slippers — it’s one of the finest farms in East Clare.”

The fine dry summer means crops are being dried and stored and, yet, the sun is still shining.

Five maps have already been given out since this farm appeared on the paper last week and auctioneer, Michael O’Donovan of Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan, hopes that momentum continues to the sale of a 79-acre farm at Ballyrusheen, Castlecor, Mallow, CoCork.

A retirement sale at Ballineen, Co Cork, offers 68-acres of top class grassland in an intensive production area. 

Bit by bit since 2009, farmer Liam Shiely has sold up his fragmented dairy holding in west Cork, following his sensational acquisition of the 550-acre Castle Annaghs estate in Co Kilkenny.

There’s already early interest and bids at about the €12,000 an acre mark in a 32-acre land sale out at Ballindenisk, near Watergrasshill — adjacent to a famed point to point and international equestrian eventing, linked to the Fell family, for the past 40 years.

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.

Another prime farm sale in County Cork is ripe, literally, for the autumn selling season.

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

It was on the market a year ago, but an agreed sale fell through, so this Borlin, Bantry property is back for sale again.

Having bagged a €1m sale back in June, for a 98-acre farm at Milltown, Charleville, auctioneer John Flynn is hoping for a similar market response for his latest land offering.

It might be the slumber season for land sales, but flagging an auction for the later autumn season is not a bad idea, giving seller, agents and potential buyers, in particular, time to organise themselves.

While the land market is quiet, in terms of new listings, the conclusion of sales kept auctioneers and solicitors busy, before the mass departure of August.

A year ago, this farm, at Rathcoole, Mallow, Co Cork, was on the market as a private treaty sale — now the 73-acre holding is back for sale, only this time by auction.

It’s one of the few villages in Ireland without a pub, and Annestown locals revel in that status — before travelling further afield to buy a pint, it’s presumed.

There seems to have been a little bit of skulduggery by Sir Edward Tierney in regard to the estate of his employer and landlond, the Earl of Egmont.

A site with plenty of quality land close to the capital should see a huge response for selling agent Paddy Jordan of Jordan Estates.

News this week of the proposed sale of Lisselan Esate, near Clonakility, Co Cork will prompt reminders of the significant sale price of around 15,000 achieved for its home farm early in this decade. 

Memory and the written word can’t compare to the memory of land.

It hit the hustings in September of last year without its residential element and now, this 29-acre property at Ballytrasna, Ballycotton is being sold in the entire or in two lots.

Famously, the last time this land at Oliver’s Cross, Mallow, Co Cork, was sold, back in the early summer of 2005, the auctioneer involved described the deal as "selling the sizzle and not the steak".

The sale by public auction of three adjoining farms close to Cappagh, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, should create quite a stir in this intensive dairying area.

The helter skelter rise in land prices from last year has abated somewhat, with only prime land in prime areas commanding a premium.

News this week of the proposed sale of Lisselan Esate, near Clonakility, Co Cork will prompt reminders of the significant sale price of around 15,000 achieved for its home farm early in this decade.

It was guided at €1.3 million on these pages over a month ago and now the modern dairy farm located at Scart, Ballyclough, has made that and a bit more in negotiations which followed its auction last week.

This holding north of Macroom, in Co Cork, at Scrahanard and Cackanode, is being offered in two lots.

Excellent road access is likely to draw expanding dairy farmers to a 26-acre farm holding new to the market near Watergrasshill, Co Cork.

A selection of views of Dripsey Castle estate in Cork, which could attract bids of up to €2m, say the vendors in this sale of 110 acres with Georgian residence, stone courtyard buildings, castle ruin and other buildings.

This is going to suit a select few down to the ground — those looking for land near the city, rural and with an easy commute.

It includes a five-acre lake, in its total of 44 acres, and the land at Currahly, Ballingeary, Macroom, Co Cork, isn’t bad, says selling agent, Killian Lynch.