Tynte Park, a 145-acre estate near Dunlavin, Co Wicklow, holds enormous appeal, writes Robert O'Byrne

THOUGH she died more than 40 years ago, older residents of west Wicklow still remember the indomitable Miss Violet Tynte, a fierce horsewoman and noted player in international women's golf who, in photographs, looks like a betrousered Margaret Rutherford.

Until her death in 1963, Miss Tynte occupied the family seat, Tynte Park which lies close to the very pretty village of Dunlavin, where an ancestor, Robert Tynte, was responsible for building the splendid granite market house in 1741.

Resident in Ireland since the 16th century, the Tyntes acquired their Wicklow estate through a judicious marriage at the start of the 18th century, but the present house was only built around 1820 in a restrained neo-classical style.

Following Violet Tynte's demise, the place passed to a relative and then through a number of other hands until acquired 12 years ago by the present owners.

A combination of family and business obligations mean they must now leave Tynte Park, "very reluctantly", they say.

It's easy to understand their reluctance, because the whole place holds enormous appeal.

Approached down a fine tree-canopied drive bordered by laurel and rhododendron, the main house is sited on ground that drops away to a distant prospect of blue-tinged mountains.

The five-bay rendered front has a granite Doric portico which leads into the handsome entrance hall with its original timber floor and cantilevered staircase.

From here, a number of doors open to the principal reception rooms, including an invitingly comfortable drawingroom where the present occupants spend most of their time settled before the white marble fireplace, and a diningroom which, by contrast, has a fine oak chimneypiece elaborately carved with garlands of fruit in the style of Grinling Gibbons.

But the main attraction on this floor is the south-facing saloon or ballroom which, though at present carpeted, retains its sprung wood floor and offers wonderful opportunities for entertaining on a grand scale; it recently hosted a birthday dinner for 70 guests.

Catering for large parties is no problem thanks to the big, bright kitchen and utility room accommodated in a wing added to the west during the last century.

The old kitchen was in the stone-flagged basement, but it has been turned into one of two bedrooms in a self-contained apartment at this level which, in addition, has a big study, wine cellar and sundry storerooms.

Up on the first floor there are three bedrooms plus a splendid suite that includes bedroom, bath- room and dressingroom.

Directly overhead, a further bedroom has been cleverly created under the eaves and there's space for more if these were required.

Selling by private treaty through Colliers Jackson-Stops and for offers over €15 million, Tynte Park comes with 145 acres, 60 of which are mature woodland around the estate's perimeter; this was enhanced in 2000 when an additional 4,000 trees were planted to mark the millennium.

The rest of the land is laid out as paddocks because, like Miss Tynte before them, the present owners and their children are very keen on horses and ride with the local hunt. So the adjacent stable block has been fully restored and is in use, while behind it stands an American barn containing a further six loose boxes, and a small sand arena.

The route to these facilities passes through an arboretum which, in turn, provides access to Tynte Park's walled garden, the greater part of which is laid out in gravel paths, box hedging and formal flowerbeds while the greenhouse is filled with citrus plants.

The walled garden also holds a floodlit, full-size tennis court. It's an unusual feature to find on a country estate, but one feels the sports-loving Miss Violet Tynte would have approved.