The lavish former home of the late Ryanair founder Tony Ryan, Lyons Demesne in Kildare, is believed to have been sold for a sum close to €30 million.

The Georgian estate on 600 acres has been on the market since 2009 and, although contracts have not yet been signed, the buyer is understood to be an Irish man based in the Middle East.

Joint selling agents Knight Frank and Christies would not comment on the deal except to say nothing had been signed, but the estate was taken down from their websites in recent weeks.

Ireland’s most expensive country home, Lyons Demesne originally came to the market asking €80 million, the highest price ever sought for an Irish home. That asking price was reduced in the intervening period to €50 million and now it is understood the Irish buyer will pay close to the asking price of €30 million, which was set by Knight Frank last July.

In 2011 buyers from around the world spent almost €4 million on the estate’s contents at a seven-hour auction at Christies in London which included exquisite works of fine art and antiques.

The 1790s house features exemplary Georgian architecture and a lavish drawingroom with museum-quality frescoes. It has 10 guest bedroom suites, a private cinema, and a swimming pool.

The grounds include a 22-acre lake, a private landing strip and stables.

Tony Ryan, who died in 2007, bought Lyons in 1996 and renovated it completely.