Top award for Galway auctioneer
IPAV chairman John Kennedy, winner Kevin Hassett and iamsold director Patrick Convey.
Kevin Hassett, of iamsold online bidding platform, has won this year's National Novice Rostrum Auctioneer competition, which is an annual competition run by the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV). The competition saw competitors from all over the country going head-to-head in the renowned selling arena at Tattersalls Ireland, Ratoath, Co Meath to demonstrate their skills in rostrum selling. Kevin works with iamsold who provide a bidding platform to auctioneers and estate agents around Ireland
Kevin, aged 35, joined iamsold in April 2021 as an apprentice auctioneer and enrolled in the two-year National Auctioneering and Property Services Apprenticeship course, based out of GRETb training centre, Athenry.
Patrick Folan, company director of iamsold, is also the current chairperson of the steering group for the Property Apprenticeship. He remarked: "All of us at iamsold are delighted for Kevin in winning the competition and it is a testament to his own hard work and skills. I feel that Kevin's success is also a great news story for the Apprenticeship course which has enabled him to get licenced as an auctioneer and gave him excellent training over the two years. The new Apprenticeship style course, which is a relatively new concept for the property industry, was very much welcomed by all stakeholders in the property industry, including our own business and has become the training ground for many of the upcoming auctioneers nationwide".
Having worked in organic farming and sales, Kevin decided upon a career change following on from the Covid pandemic. He then entered into the world of auctioneering with iamsold and hasn't looked back since, having successfully graduated as an auctioneer in 2023. Kevin's decision to enter the competition this year was inspired by his fellow graduate and former IPAV Novice Rostrum Auctioneer Champion of 2022, Darren Hession, who is a livestock auctioneer based in Tuam.
As part of the competition, Kevin conducted multiple live auctions on the day and competed against seven high standard competitors from around the country. The initial audition involved selling an elephant art sculpture designed by IPAV in support of The Elephant in the Room mental health movement, which has been inspired by the founder Brent Pope. As the day progressed, the seven finalists were reduced to two who went through to the final auction to sell tickets for charity. The proceeds raised went to Samaritans Ireland, which Elephant in the Room selected as their chosen charity. Kevin emerged victorious in the final round, against a worthy competitor in Cian Pearse of Lisney Sotheby's International Realty, Dublin.
Kevin was presented with the prestigious Ron Duff Memorial Rose Bowl trophy, which he will retain in Galway for one year. Kevin was also awarded a fantastic prize will see him fly to the USA to train with the renowned Mike Jones at the revered America's Auction Academy in Dallas, Texas.
