Athy pub sold at auction after frantic bidding

The former Emigrant Bar in Athy was sold for €404,000 through an online auction hosted by BidX1 on Thursday with two individuals vying for the property.

There were a couple of idiosyncrasies with the auction.

Bidding time was limited to around an hour, and there was no activity until virtually the last minute before the auction was to finish.

The successful anonymous bidder opened the bidding at the opening price of €300,000 and within a minute was met their challenger, also anonymous, who upped the bid by €1,000.

The way BidX1 works, any new bid meant a short extension of time on the auction.

Tit met tat and the two bidders battled over the next 40 minutes in increments of €1,000 until the opening bidder clinched it.

The Emigrant Bar traded on Emily Square until 2022.

The building comprises a former public house and restaurant together with a three-bedroom apartment overhead.

Hopefully, it will not be too long before we see what the new owners have planned.