For Sale

Traditional cottage with horse facilities and farm in Ireland

Asking Price: £560,000 o.n.o.

Contact:  00 353 5236304

Stone cottage with 52 acre organic farm, with stables and equine facilities, set in the hills between the Knockmealdown and Comeragh mountains, overlooking the plain of Tipperary. The views in all directions will always take your breath away, as they change with the moods of the day. A peaceful, out of the way home, in a warm hearted community, 3 miles from the local village, 9 miles from Clonmel (a town with most of what you need), 16 miles from good beaches, harbours and the ocean. 

Tooracurragh, Ballymacarby, Co.Waterford

The Cottage

The cottage, is nestled into the hill, and was built by craftsman, using the local pink/gold sandstone. It has been restored, while we have lived and grown in it, to make the most of its features. However, there is still potential to add your own finishing touches, so you too will feel its your home.

It has 4 bedrooms, 2 downstairs (108sq ft & 92sq ft), 1 split level (225sq ft) and 1 upstairs (120sq ft) a kitchen/dining room (195sq ft) with a traditional fireplace housing a range providing cooking, hot water and heating, a cosy sitting room (135sq ft) with the original open stone fireplace, a bathroom (70sq ft) and 2 attics (180sq ft & 150sq ft)

The front door opens onto a sheltered yard, bordered by 3 stone outhouses and a workshop (with commercial status) and a covered area. The fourth side of the yard leads to the road entrance, lawns and herb garden and out into the fields. At the far edge of the lawns, in a secluded spot, is a wood cabin, recently built, entirely from natural materials, to be a well insulated, independent living space, which makes the most of the stunning views.

A small stone walled boreen leads you out of the lawn to one of the fields that contains the stable block, with its own haybarn. A side exit from the boreen takes you behind the workshop, past the beehives and either into another field or into the 0.6acre vegetable garden. This garden contains well cared for and productive vegetable beds (organic status), a paddling pool/pond, poultry sheds and fruit trees. 

The Horse Enterprise

I have bred and trained ponies and horses for many years, kept in conjunction with a small herd of Irish Moile suckler cows. The hill grazing, with the free access barn, is a perfect for out wintering horses and ponies. There is also a stable complex, with a foaling box, 4 stables, tack/feed room, haybarn and enclosed yard. There is also a post and railed training area with sand track (dressage arena size), and a separate jumping arena. The pastures have stone walls or post and rail fencing.

There are already some cross country fences and the potential to complete a full course, once the forestry rides are opened up (see below). There is also the potential for up to a 5 furlong gallop to be created within the property, that would start on a flat areas and lead into a gentle hill climb. A 40% grant could be sought to do this.

The property is situated half way up a hill, and the road system is ideal for getting horses fit, as there is little traffic. The locals are well trained to respect horses using the road so it is a pleasure to ride out. There are also off road riding areas within easy reach and a 30 minutes ride will bring you out onto the open country of the Knockmealdowns, which stretches away for about 20 miles. 

The Farm

The farm consists of 34 acres of grassland, 10 of which is flat or gently sloping pasture, rich with clover and mixed species grasses and herbs and the rest is hill grazing. The hill has been maintained while not disturbing the wildlife, and is full of wildflower species including orchids. The fields are bordered by stone walls and mature hedges. There is also 17acres of mixed species forestry. There is a 3 span stone and wood barn (50x30ft) built in 1996, with a concrete yard in front. The barn is situated to allow free access for animals wintered on the hill grazing, and to be close to the pastureland. The barn also houses cattle in the winter, and stores the majority of the hay crop. There is an all year round spring on the hill, which is plumbed in to provide a water supply to all fields. There is also a well near the cottage that supplies water to the cottage, cabin, stables and nearby fields.

The whole farm has organic status (since 1986), a herd number, is registered for REPS and receives a single farm payment, disadvantaged area and forestry premium.

The forestry is a mix of conifers and native hardwoods, and is ready for first thinning. It was planted with the aim of producing commercial timber, but also to eventually restore this part of the hill to its traditional status of deciduous woodland. It was also planned that network of paths would be made through the forest at first thinning so that one could exercise the horses within the property. The wood from the first thinning can be sold as woodchip through a farmer’s co-op, which has recently been established in Co. Waterford.

The Digester Business

There is a 140cu m anaerobic digester on the farm, although separated from the rest of the farm and with its own access. Therefore, it could be sold as a separate entity, however, it is the main earner of the farm and provides a very good income. The digester currently also supplies biogas to the run the range in the cottage. The digester consists of 2x 70cu m below ground concrete tanks with glass fibre (GRP) roofs with integral gasholder. The system is fully automated, except for loading and unloading, and includes all the associated equipment and waste storage tanks required. There is also 130,000gals of lined and covered lagoon storage for the liquid fertiliser, which is sufficient storage for 4 months (as required by legislation). This lagoon is out of sight in the forestry.

The digester processes manure from the farm and from other local farms, along with organic waste for which a gate fee is charged. It produces biogas (a renewable energy), liquid fertiliser and fibre. The biogas is used for process heating and for the cottage energy requirements, there is also surplus biogas that could be used to heat polytunnels, or for other purposes. The liquid fertiliser product is used as the sole source of fertiliser for the farm and is also supplied to surrounding farms. The fibre is ideal for horticulture or arboriculture. I have sold some material into these markets but haven’t had the time to develop the markets fully. I also use the fibre in the garden and on the farm.

There is still 2 years to run on the current waste permit, and renewal a year ago was a straightforward process. The organic waste is supplied, to the digester, by permitted waste management companies, who collect from different companies, such as dairies, some of these companies have been supplying the digester with waste for four years now. The digester business has the capability to finance the purchase of this property, within a normal mortgage period. If you want, I would be happy to show you how to operate the digester and provide training where necessary.