CROMWELL SAID of The Burren that it “did not have enough water to drown a man or enough wood to hang him”.
Despite that, the people have survived there for thousands of years in what is one of the most unique places on earth. Although the exotic rock formations may look barren, the Burren, with its unique climate, has one great advantage over the rest of this country. Those rocks heat up in the summer, warmed by the Gulf Stream, and are like a giant storage heater which allows grass grow there all winter. This is a wonderful advantage to farmers: no need to buy costly feed or rely on getting winter fodder.
On October 30th then, there will be a lot of interest when one of the largest farms in the country comes on the market. In total, the 1,550-acre farm put together by the late Michael Fitzpatrick, which fronts onto the main road between Ballyvaughan and Doolin, is going for auction.
The farm at Fanore has generated a lot of interest, especially in farming circles, as it has the excellent wintering properties for which the area is known and has carried a beef herd of 150 suckler cows in the past and a sheep flock.
“Things are difficult in farming now, especially in the beef sector, but I am still getting a lot of queries about the farm,” says auctioneer John Vaughan. “I have had inquiries from all over the country, Kildare, Cork and Kerry, and there is an amazing amount of interest in the property from the North.”
He says the farm was put together piecemeal by the former owner who purchased it in bits and pieces over the years and it will be sold in five lots, one of which includes the farmhouse on one acre. This modest building needs refurbishment. Close to the farmhouse is 52 acres of good quality summer grazing land and the winterage lands would be offered for sale in three lots – 148 acres, 852 acres and 482 acres. All the winterage land is adjoining, bringing the total in one block to 1,482 acres. There is also 16.9 acres of grazing land with frontage to the Ballyvaughan to Fanore road which is joined to the 1,482 acres by “the Green Road”.
Mr Vaughan says the farm is about 41 miles from Galway city, 14 miles from Kinvara, 31 miles from Ennis and 30 miles from Gort. He says the property would be useful if someone wanted to buy one or more lots to add to their farm or for someone who wanted to buy the entire property (with the idea of wintering a large number of cattle) which comes with a natural water supply.
Vaughan says the view over Galway Bay from the farm is stunning and adds to the attraction of the place. He said there was no guide price on the property, but that “the reserve will be low”. “Three or four years ago you would have gotten €2 million-plus for this, but those days are gone.”
The auction, through agent John Vaughan Auctioneers, is on Friday, October 30th at 3pm in the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, Co Clare
1,550-acre farm at Fanore, Co Clare, monster farm with Galway Bay views for auction in five lots
Agent: John Vaughan Auctioneers
