A CO WEXFORD man has secured a new home for €983.79. That figure was the highest unique offer made on a house in Elderwood in Castlebridge, just outside Wexford town, as part of a fundraising drive by Rosslare Community Development Association.
Mark Fitzpatrick, from Rosslare Strand, who is married and has five children, was unveiled as the highest bidder for the new three-bed house on Monday.
The association, a registered charity, sold the house by tender.
The premise of the competition was that the home would be awarded to the highest unique bid between €0.01 and €999.99. People could make 10 bids for €100.
“It is fantastic and very exciting, it’s not every day that something like this happens to you,” said Mr Fitzpatrick .
He said he did not apply any scientific methods but felt he should aim fairly high.
Ray Flynn of the Rosslare Community Development Association said the initiative has raised about €100,000.
The house was given to the association by Dublin’s Noonan Construction Group, which had undertaken to make a contribution to local community facilities as part of a planning application. However, with the company short of funds after the collapse of the housing market, it honoured its agreement by donating the house.