Arkle birthplace sells for over €8 million

Ballymacoll Stud - birthplace of the famous racehorse, Arkle -  has been sold at auction for over €8 million.

REA Coonan Maynooth and Celbridge and Knight Frank London last week sold the Dunboyne establishment for €8,150,000.

The property extends to 294 acres with 70 loose boxes and ancillary buildings.

An attractive manager’s residence commands the entrance to the main stable block and there are four staff cottages.

The lands are of outstanding quality and the property has a superb history for breeding top class race horses including two derby winners, nine classic winners and 30 group one winners.

The auction was an extremely well attended one and the opening bid was €4,500,000.

The bidding continued with four bidders involved to €7,000,000 when Willie Coonan withdrew with Rupert Sweeting of Knight Frank and the vendors to discuss the bid.

On their return the property was placed on the market and after 44 further bids it was sold for the sum of €8,150,000 to Peter Walsh, Orpen Franks & Co, Solicitors for a client.

The agents commented that it was an outstanding price for what is undoubtedly one of the finest stud farms in the Kildare/Meath area and stated they had an excellent enquiry for the property during the time it was on the market.