A handsome Victorian Italianate mansion, Slevoir, on 100 acres along the shores of Lough Derg, in Co Tipperary, is expected to make around £1.7 million when it is auctioned by joint agents Gunne and The Property Shop on June 29th. It is one of the most enchanting country homes to come on the market this year.

The house was built with that splendid disregard for compactness which is such a feature of the better quality late 19th century country homes.

There's no shortage of space here - six reception rooms and 11 bedrooms. In fact, the entire property is a strong mix of big house and big garden in a magnificent lakeside setting beside Terryglass village.

The array of reception rooms is formidable and each is big, elegant and as well finished as the exterior.

The entrance hall has a double height ceiling and galleried landing in an unusually tall campanile tower. Most of the reception rooms are focused on the lake, none more so than the drawingroom which is almost 30 ft by 24 ft. It has a lovely polished oak floor and an attractive fireplace with carved timber surround.

There are double doors leading into the morningroom which has particularly fine plasterwork. Off the hall there is also a striking ante-room which leads to the diningroom. The reception rooms are served by a fine kitchen complete with the customary Aga.

Throughout the house, the period detail has been preserved with great care, apart from the windows which have been replaced by the PVC variety. Purists would probably view this change of style as a kind of sacrilege but like it or not, the same thing is sadly happening in an increasing number of period homes throughout the country.

Slevoir House has no shortage of bedrooms. Apart from the main bedroom suite, there are 10 more bedrooms, six of them with en suite shower rooms, and an additional five bathrooms.

The house would suit a wealthy family looking for peace and seclusion or a successful business executive wanting a comfortable retreat.

However, Charles Smyth of Gunne believes it may well appeal to families wanting to open a form of Hidden Ireland guesthouse because of its location on the north eastern shores of Lough Derg, the largest lake on the Shannon with direct access to the Erne waterway.

Slevoir was built in 1870 by Lt-Col J. F. Hickie and remained in the ownership of his family until 1950, when it was acquired as a novitiate by the Salesian Sisters. It was bought 17 years ago by a German company and successfully turned back into a private residence, a legacy to comfortable country living.

The house has superb grounds, including well-kept lawns and beautiful parkland which runs through ancient timber to the lake. The grounds also include a large stable yard with wonderful stone-faced outbuildings, a staff bungalow, an old boathouse in need of repair and a walled garden which is still cultivated. Slevoir's woodlands add greatly to the appeal of the place.