‘160-acre Wicklow dairy farm with rich family history to be sold at auction’. Wicklow People. 13/04/24.

A 160-acre Wicklow dairy farm with a five-bedroom farmhouse steeped in family history will be sold at an online auction on Tuesday, May 14, at 12 p.m.

Farmed by Mervyn and Dorothy Fairbrother for over 30 years, the expansive property in Rathdangan, west Wicklow, is divided by the public road, with the farmhouse, sheds and outbuildings on the western side on c. 43 acres, and the remaining c. 117 acres on the eastern side.

The Fairbrothers recently made the heart-wrenching decision to sell their beloved dairy herd, farm and Dorothy’s family home – which her father purchased in 1958 – after their free time and income disappeared.

Featuring internal roadways and electric fencing, the mother and father of three have maintained the farm to an impeccable standard, with their lush lands, which are currently all in grass, enjoying the benefit of both a piped and natural water supply.

The sprawling property features a range of yards, outbuildings and slatted tanks, including a milking parlour, a 9-bay cubicle shed with feeding troughs and auto scrapers, a 360,000-gallon slurry tower and a workshop.

The traditional stone farmhouse was extended in recent years, and has two separate entrances.

Boasting two bathrooms, cosy living rooms with open fires, a conservatory/dining room, an office, and two kitchens, the layout of the accommodation allows for a main residential area and a second area suitable for conversion to a granny flat or holiday let.

The land will be offered at auction in four Lots; Lot 1, The residence, farmyard and outbuildings on c. 43.608 acres (c. 17.6 Ha); Lot 2, c. 75.919 acres (c. 30.7 Ha); Lot 3, C. 41.132 acres (c. 16.6 Ha); Lot 4, The entire.

“This is a very fine farm just outside Rathdangan and about 7 or 8km from Baltinglass,” noted David Quinn of QUINN PROPERTY.

“You have a lovely farmhouse and a great range of sheds and buildings. The owners were milking about 150 cows, so they have a load of accommodation for a dairy herd.

“You have 43 acres adjoining the house and the yard, and then on the other side of the road, the remainder of the land, which is about 117 acres in total, will be sold in two separate Lots.

“I’d say we will have a good deal of interest in the entire and the other three options. It’s a very fine farm with a lot of land, and we’re hoping it will go well.”

This article was written by Eoin Mac Raghnailll and can be accessed here.