Plans by the Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, to sell the parochial house in Slane for possible residential development are to be strongly resisted by local people.
The house, a protected building, is one of four matching three-storey over-basement dwellings built in 1730 on each of the corners of the crossroads in Slane. It carries a price tag of around €1.5 million.
Opponents of the sale have formed the Slane Heritage Support Group (SHSG) to campaign for its retention by the local community for use as a tourist office and museum.
The house, outbuilding and gardens were put on the market with Gunne estate agents. The advertisement describes it as "ideally suited for high density new homes", and suggests a mix of townhouses, duplexes and ground-floor apartments.
There is around 1.5 acres of walled gardens which, according to the auctioneers, "favour a courtyard residential scheme".
The house was put up for sale by local priest, Father Joe Deegan, who felt it was too big for his needs, and that a house on a smaller scale would be more appropriate.
Local legend has it the Georgian houses were built for four sisters. They are local landmarks and in prime positions overlooking both the main Dublin-Derry road and the Drogheda-Slane road.
The village is also earmarked for a by-pass that would further increase the popularity and value of the property.
However, the houses are each protected in the development plan, and the parochial house is zoned "to protect and enhance the special physical and social character of the existing town centre".
The SHSG group believes the house and gardens should be used as a local and tourist amenity.