While the wisteria is now in bloom, in panicles of delicate blue fragrant flowers all along the facade of the house, the impression is that the mature gardens and surrounding grounds have plenty to attract year-round attention, giving a good indication of the elegant interior.

Records show that there was originally a tower house on this spot in 1664, granted by Cromwell to one of his officers, along with some 2,000 acres of land. The house changed hands among a series of Anglo Irish owners in the intervening centuries and underwent transformations in the style of each particular era, most notably with the addition of the top floor to the building in 1790.

The Land Commission split the lands in l953, but throughout all the transitions the house retained its special period character, and when the current owners bought it 30 years ago they added additional comfort and warmth during their renovations.

The impressive Georgian architectural detail defines the well-proportioned rooms, most of which have high ceilings with cornices, antique fireplaces and shuttered windows . . . including the six bedrooms.

Accommodation includes a separate two-bed apartment, accessed through the back hall of the main house, and which has its own decorative entrance hall: fully-fitted kitchen; shelved larder; livingroom; en-suite to the main bedroom; and guest cloakroom.

The main house is all of this writ large, with the formal entrance at first-floor level up a flight of granite steps. Elegant reception rooms open from this grand, light-filled reception hall with parquet floor, painted in a pale heritage blue.

Three recessed, tall sash windows fill the period drawingroom with abundant natural light. The diningroom is equally bright and mirrors the drawingroom with its impressive fireplace and ceiling plaster detail.

From the back hall, a mahogany staircase leads to the groundfloor level of the house. Accommodation on this floor again opens from the hall which has a door leading to the courtyard.

The big farmhouse kitchen has an Aga, beamed ceilings, oak fitted presses, island with electric hob and large window overlooking the courtyard. Adjacent is the breakfast-cum-livingroom with a large open fire, and an overhead beam and archway to the dining area.

There are five bedrooms at this level also, including the en-suitemaster bedroom; and the main bathroom. Off the back hall is a fully-shelved larder, an office and a playroom. The two-storey residence is approached through a semi-circular stone entrance, while the surrounding grounds comprise over 1.5 acres of sheltered gardens.

Among the many mature trees and shrubs are ornamental cherries, copper beeches, limes and a specimen tulip tree . . . all giving that wisteria a run for its money in the eye-catching stakes.

Price: AMV 1.5m by public auction on 25 May 2006 Joint agent: Ganly Walters 01-662 3255 and Richard Cleary of Property Partners 0506-21522