Selling agents Savills said viewers from China, the US, the UK and Ireland have all taken tours of the extensive property in recent months, and that a 'number' of offers had been made. However, agent Pat O' Hagan said none had been accepted because they failed to meet the reserve price.

The property will probably be sold as a corporate headquarters, Pat said, or perhaps redeveloped as a hotel or nursing home.

Designed by James Gandon, who also completed the Custom House and Four Courts, the property dates from 1770 and its dining room is considered Gandon's 'finest surviving domestic interior', according to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

Pat O' Hagan said the buyer would need deep pockets and a 'good idea' of what they wanted to do with house, which needs to be rewired and replumbed. 'We've had viewers from China, the US, the UK and Ireland. The main interest is from Ireland. There's a huge amount of business going on between Ireland and China and it's only now getting to the stage where the Chinese are looking over here. They come to Ireland and see the sea, green fields, and we're also the stepping stone to Europe and the US'.