IFA legend's 158ac home farm up for auction

There has been strong activity in the farmland market in counties Monaghan and Cavan in recent months, writes Jim O'Brien.
Among the farms coming to auction in the immediate future is a 158ac farm, straddling the Meath border with Cavan.
Located primarily at Glanadara and spread out among a number of townslands between Bailieboro and Kingscourt on Lough an Lae Mountain, the holding originally belonged to legendary NFA and IFA man Phil Reilly. It comes to auction with a guide price of €5,000 to €6,000/ac.
Phil Reilly was a life-long farmer activist taking part in the 1965 to 1967 Farmers Rights Campaign.
In 1966, following the famous Farmers' March to Dublin the campaign moved from marching to blocking bridges and Phil was among the farmers jailed for refusing to pay court fines.
He served time in Portlaoise and Mountjoy and after his release he continued to be active in farming politics. He passed away last March.
The major part of Phil's home farm is being sold at auction later in the month while it is expected that the homestead and 92ac will be brought to auction in spring 2018.
The land is described by Oldcastle auctioneer John V Farrelly as a mixture of upland and lower ground suitable for drystock or sheep and also suitable for forestry or renewable energy.