A 160-ACRE equestrian estate in Co Wicklow has sold at auction for €2.9 million – €400,000 over the AMV.

Killoughter, near Ashford, has an attractive Victorian farmhouse, extensive yards, 70 boxes, a four furlong gallop and further horse training facilities, all within easy reach of the motorway.

Paddy Jordan of Jordan Auctioneers in Newbridge handled the sale of the property which attracted three bidders.

The winning bid came from an adjoining landowner, according to the agent. The price achieved equates to €18,000 per acre

Killoughter was established by Sir Chester Beatty in the 1950s and was used for sales prep, pre-training, breeze-ups and foaling.

The farm has bred or raised many important winners on the flat, both at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, in Dublin sales, Lisney fetched €980,000 at auction yesterday for Prince Patrick, a large Victorian semi on around 0.4 of an acre in Dalkey with a separate bungalow in the grounds.

Four bidders chased the property, which needs total refurbishment. It had been guided at €950,000.

New homes specialists Hooke MacDonald had a successful launch weekend at Booterstown Wood, a scheme of apartments developed by Irish Nationwide which had been mothballed for the past nine months.

It took deposits for 50 of the 62 one and two-bedroom units between last Thursday and Monday, according to director David Cantwell.

Prices for the one-bedroom apartments started at €215,000; two-beds ranged from €289,000 to €350,000 while two-bed duplex units and penthouses were sold for between €355,000 to €445,000.