Sale deal may be clinched soon

With substantial offers already on the table, a sale is expected to be concluded within the coming week or so, for a 74-acre holding in the townland of Dromerk, just 5km north of Dunmanway, West Cork, according to selling agent John Hodnett in Clonakilty.

The guide price is set at €350,000. The land is of mixed quality, with 42 acres of good quality pasture land and the remaining 32 of lesser quality.

This latter portion has, however, been approved for afforestation — something of a rarity in this area, according to John. “Having land approved for forestry in West Cork in the current climate is unusual,” says John, pointing out that the criteria now requested make it a more difficult process than heretofore, in an area with so many Special Areas of Conservation. In the case of this land, the next owners will have to get planting on or before December 31.

“The lands are south-facing and very securely fenced,” says the agent of the good-quality pasture land, “as well as having the benefit of extensive road frontage.”

The current owners are farmers based closer to Cork city, and they will be taking the Single Farm Payments with them, but there is an old building on site that serves very well as a cattle holding facility and there is electricity and a private water supply.

With the division in land types, the property can be sold in either one or two lots. While there is strong interest in both parts, according to the agent, there is also plenty of appetite in the market for the entire holding, with some progressive farmers envisaging bringing the forestry-designated lands up to pasture level in order to qualify for the 20-year premia.