SOME 114 acres of non-residential farm land at Rosetown and Greenhills, Athgarven, Co Kildare went on to sell for almost €13,700/acre to a local couple at a public auction in Lawlor’s Hotel, Naas last week.

Featured in these pages last month, the farm is located just off the main Athgarven/Two Mile House road, some 6km from Kilcullen and is bounded on one side with the 750-acre Castlemartin Stud. Approached by a hedge lined avenue and surrounded by mature hedging, Rosetown came to the market with 900 metres of frontage to the River Liffey, a farmyard and 114 acres of some of the best grazing land.

Located near the Curragh and Punchestown Racecourse’s, the farm has operated as a bloodstock breeding operation since 1982 and many notable group winners have been nurtured at the farm.

The land, laid out in six divisions, is split by the M9 motorway and the 20 acres on the opposite side (bounding with Martinstown Stud) are accessed through a purpose-built underpass.

Around 50 people turned up to the auction in Naas and among them were four active bidders. Auctioneer Will Coonan opened the proceedings with a bid of just under €1 million.

From there bids of €50,000 were taken up to €1.4 million, at which stage, they were reduced to €20,000 and €10,000 offers.

At €1.54 million, the property was declared on the market and a further €20,000 saw the hammer fall at €1.56 million to a local business couple. Among the underbidders was an agent acting in trust and a local farmer.

Small equestrian property makes €13,500/acre

Coonan Auctioneers, Maynooth and Celbridge, also sold the a beautiful architecturally-designed five-bedroom residence standing on nine acres at Oughterard, Straffan, Co Kildare in a private deal to a local buyer at auction last week for €13,500/acre.

Located three miles from the K Club, there were five stables, a tack room and a hay barn on the property, appealing to those with an equestrian interest. The property was withdrawn from the market at €725,000 but sold afterwards for a higher figure.