More than €13k/acre expected for prime land overlooking Blackwater

The fertile lands in east Cork and west Waterford that overlook the River Blackwater, at its most dramatic locations close to where it enters the sea, have long been renowned for their quality.

This is evident to the eye as you drive through the area, and see the multitude of big houses that have lasted long after independence in this part of Ireland, standing testament to the attraction and the profitability of the land here.

Large and medium-sized blocks of land have been rare to make an appearance on the market of late, so there should be a good deal of interest in a 90-acre residential parcel that has just come up for sale with Youghal-based auctioneers Noel Mackey & Sons.

The property is located in the townland of Ballyknock, Co Waterford, approximately 4km from Youghal on the Tallow road.

The lands are all in grass, and on an elevated position with fine views of the Blackwater Valley back towards Youghal, as well as of the broad, spectacular estuary of Munster’s premier river.

“It’s a prime holding,” says selling agent Noel Mackey. “It consists of top quality land that would be suitable for all types of farming activity.”

This area mostly has dairy farms, but also well represented locally are the beef and equestrian sectors, with a number of important stud farms located close to this property.

“It would be mostly dairying around the area,” says Noel, “but it would be suitable for tillage or it would be a good cattle-fattening farm too.

“And there are some good stud farms not too far away.

“It’s nicely laid out in good sized paddocks. There’s a lot of road frontage going with it too, with access from two roads, the main Youghal-Tallow road [R634] and another side road.”

The farm is currently being used for dairying and is well maintained.

“There’s a single-storey residence which is in need of total refurbishment, and you have a number of outbuildings. There’s a three-column hay shed with lean-to buildings and some stone buildings with the old house.”

The price guide for this farm is €13,500 per acre, a reasonable expectation given how recent local sales went.