See inside two Derrinstown stud farms in Celbridge on the market for over €1m each

Two other Derrinstown residential holdings are coming to auction in early November, both near Celbridge, Co Kildare: Windgates Stud on 53ac and Pickering on 104ac.

The Derrinstown farms, owned by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, have an established standard for all their properties, which people in the bloodstock and equine sector will recognise.

According to Philip Byrne of selling agents Coonans of Maynooth, nothing has been spared in the equine accommodation and facilities.

Windgates Stud is on the Straffan road (R406) and equidistant from Celbridge and Maynooth.

The 53ac is described as top-quality ground, all stud-rail fenced with a good road network serving all parts of the farm.

The equestrian facilities include 17 loose boxes in an L-shaped block of stables beside a green ‘quad’ sheltered by some fine stands of trees.

Other facilities include a three-column hay-shed with a lean-to and a range of barns and farm buildings.

There are two all-weather turnout paddocks. The land is laid out in nine distinct divisions, all in grass with 600m of road frontage, while the holding has two access points leading to the house and the yard.

The 1,500 sq ft, four-bedroom two-storey farmhouse is structurally sound and well maintained but is in need of refurbishment.

It is on the market as an equestrian farm, but Mr Byrne says it would make “a super hobby farm”. It has a guide price of €1.15m

Pickering, just around the corner from Windgates, comes with a guide price of €2.2m.

Located in the townland of Corbally, 3km from Celbridge and Maynooth, the property is reached by an elegant tree-lined avenue and includes a bungalow and a comprehensive equestrian yard.

The stable yard and equestrian facilities include 29 loose boxes laid out in a courtyard style with a sheltered green area at the centre.

There is also an outdoor lunging ring, a six-bay horse walker and modern cattle-handling facilities. A six-column A-roofed shed contains an indoor arena, fodder storage and a feed room.

The 1,025 sq ft three-bedroom bungalow has a private rear garden.

​The land is made up of 104ac of top-quality North Kildare ground, laid out in 10 stud-railed divisions. According to Mr Byrne, a high-grade network of roads serves the entire holding.

There is a lovely woodland area on the northern boundary of the property, and the whole farm is dotted with fine stands of trees.

The holding is ideal for a medium-sized to large stud operation, and it could have other farming uses.

Both Windgates and Pickering are superbly maintained and as neat as pins.

Both will be brought to auction at the K-Club, Straffan at 3pm on Thursday, November 3.