O’Donnellan & Joyce recorded the largest volume of sales when it held its Wild Atlantic Way property auction where 46 properties went under the auction hammer. The auction featured properties from Galway to Donegal and down as far as Kerry, all along the western seaboard.
Colm O’Donnellan of O’Donnellan & Joyce Auctioneers said the auction team were “delighted with the tremendous results achieved on the day, particularly throughout Galway city, where there were a large number of home buyers and investors bidding intensely in order to acquire properties in the city area”.
The auction, which was held in the Harbour Hotel, was packed to capacity with more than 500 people in attendance. The first property to be auctioned was an apartment at No 15 Arasain na Mara, Salthill. This three bedroom apartment attracted 12 bidders. Bidding commenced at €150,000 and increased in increments of €5,000 with bids coming from all over the room. The hammer fell at €247,000, which was €87,000 above the reserve price.
Lot no 2 was No 93 Ballinfoyle Park, Headford Road, Galway. The property, which opened at €70,000, attracted five interested bidders who interchanged in €5,000 increments and it was sold for a record price for property in this locality at €150,000.
Lot 3 was a commercial unit in Moycullen village centre with a residential apartment overhead. Offers opened at €110,000 with a number of interested parties involved in the bidding. It finally sold at €285,000, which was €165,000 over the advised minimum value.
There was great value for first time buyers in Mervue where No 25 Cardinal Cushing Road went on the market quoting €115,000, needing a bit of work. It finally sold after a number of bids for €175,000. No 4 Emmet Avenue, Mervue, a three bed mid-terrace home in mint decorative order and ready to walk in to, opened with a bid of €150,000 and sold at €165,000. Another opportunity for a first home at No 67 Duirling in Roscam quoted €200,000. Bids opened at €180,000 for this attractive three bed semidetached and the hammer dropped at €218,000. Over in the west of the city to Knocknacarra, No 39 Portacarron, Ballymoneen Road, a fine four bed semidetached home with the attic converted, sold after auction for €220,000. The excited first time buyers were delighted with their success.
First time buyers and investors chased two city centre one bedroom apartments at Nos 27 and 28 Atlanta House, and a three bed apartment at No 20 Coachman Apartments, all on Dominick Street. All three properties were close to bars and restaurants and nicely located on Galway’s 'Left Bank'. Both one-bed properties sold at €100,000 with the three bed opening at €130,000 and achieving €145,000.
A first floor office unit with two parking spaces at No 6B Royal Court, Liosban, on the Tuam Road, Galway, achieved €70,000. This modern unit is a great asset for its investor/owner. With a floor area of approximately 670sq ft, it boasted a large reception area, two large offices, and a canteen. Two three bed duplex units at Nos 21 and 22 Cuan na Coille, Fort Lorenzo, Galway, both quoting €155,000, sold for €180,000 and €172,000 respectively. Both units have balconies with views overlooking Galway Bay and will also make gilt edged investment properties for their shrewd owners.
A refurbished two bedroom ground floor apartment at No 5 Rockbarton Court, Salthill, which quoted €180,000 sold for €193,000. This nicely located property is tucked away in a quiet, mature, residential area and will make a delightful home for its new owner. Another gem in the Salthill portfolio was No 25 Dalysfort Road. This three bedroom mid-terrace house, needing total refurbishment and located in a lofty spot overlooking Salthill Promenade onto Galway Bay, sold at €300,000.
Some of the highlights of the day included two two-bedroom semidetached bungalows at Nos 27 and 28 Meadowbrook, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, which sold for €42,000 and €51,500 respectively after quoting €25,000 AMV each. Two derelict properties, side by side at Mount Carmel in Loughrea, Co Galway, sold as one lot for €41,000 after an opening bid at €25,000. A small commercial unit, also in Loughrea at Castle Street, sold for €18,000 after opening at €15,000.
Further east to St Mary’s Place, Athlone, a derelict house sold with development potential sold for €39,000.
Bidding was fast and furious for an assortment of properties in Annagh Village, Lahardane, Ballina, Co Mayo. The five residential units and portion of development ground, being sold as one lot, opened at a bid of €150,000 and sold for €230,000, giving great development opportunity for the new owner.
Other properties outside Galway included an apartment at No 208 Ridgepool in Ballina, Co Mayo, which sold for €34,000.
The Old Post Office in Dunmore sold for €71,000, and a four bed bungalow at Portaghard, Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, sold for €50,000. Three acres at Ballyminion in Longford sold for €15,000, with neighbouring land of another three acres at Farneyhoogan selling for €25,000.
Property in County Clare had a number of interested parties. No 26 The Park, Quin, a townhouse apartment, sold for €70,000 with its neighbour No 29 The Park, a four bed mid-terrace house, selling for €112,000. Sixteen acres of agricultural land in Lisseycasey attracted a lot of interested bidders with the hammer dropping at €66,000.
The lot that attracted the most attention was the last to go on sale, a derelict cottage at Ardfry, Renville. Located just 5km from Oranmore village and standing on approximately 0.8 acre overlooking Galway Bay, the location alone made it the jewel in the auction collection. With an advised minimum value of €80,000, three phone bidders and two in-house bidders battled it out to take ownership of this excellent development opportunity. Finally, it was one of the phone bidders who claimed with a price tag of €230,000 – over three times the AMV.
Colm O’Donnellan from O’Donnellan & Joyce auctioneers said: “It was a great day for buyers and a great day for sellers,” and he was delighted with the enormous attendance and exceptional bidding on Friday. He added: “O’Donnellan & Joyce’s next auction is on Friday April 22. If you are interested in selling a property in this auction, the auction team should be contacted prior to Friday March 18.”
Full details and information are available from O’Donnellan & Joyce, Mary Street, Galway, www.odonnjoyce.com, or 091 564 212.
