An historically important house close to Navan, Co Meath, with a legacy dating back to ancient times, is expected to fetch over £1 million (E;1.27m) when it goes for sale at auction next week.

The house and lands will be auctioned on October 25th by selling agent Sherry FitzGerald Armstrong.

Located halfway between Navan and Kells, Teltown House is set on 158 acres of land overlooks the River Blackwater. The colourful history of the estate dates back to a time when Ireland was ruled by a High King and Chieftains.

Once the site of the annual Tailteann games - similar to the Olympian games - and other pagan ceremonies, Teltown continued to be an important place in Ireland until well into the era of Christianity.

Presided over by the High King, Princes and the Chieftains, the annual Tailteann games featured wrestling and hurling matches, water sports in the river and other "manly" sports according to historians.

The annual assembly was held in August in honour of the Sun God Lugh, chief among the pagan gods.

History records that Queen Maeve, having crossed the the River Blackwater on the back of her husband, passed through the lands of Teltown on her famous journey to fetch the Brown Bull of Cooley back to Connacht.

On the introduction of Christianity, the festivities were restyled as a Christian celebration. The games at Teltown were wound up around 1800 when the local landlord forbade it to be held there in the future.

Teltown House is an attractive period property with a large courtyard, located some 35 miles from Dublin.

Accommodation is extensive and includes five bedrooms, three reception rooms and two kitchens.

Double part-glazed doors with a fanlight lead from the entrance porch to a hallway.

To the front of the house are the drawing and diningrooms, both of which have white marble fireplaces and large windows overlooking the garden.

Then there is a middle hall with a red quarry-tiled floor, which leads to the television room located at the side of the house.

A door from the middle-hall leads through to the rear hall with a cloakroom and toilet. The kitchen also leads off here.

A Belfast sink is one of the main features of this room, which overlooks the rear yard.

From here there is a door through to the old kitchen with an open fireplace, an old meat hook and solid floor. The utility room leads off the old kitchen.

Upstairs there are five bedrooms and a bathroom.

There are also outbuildings in the courtyard.

Another opportunity to acquire a rural property close to Dublin is on offer in Ashford, Co Wicklow. Killiskey House and lands being sold in three lots through Gunnes.

The house itself along with 12 acres of land comprise the first lot. Killiskey House, a three-bedroom detached house in need of renovation, and its 12 acres carry a price tag of £400,000 (E;507,895).

The house is a two-storey house with a living room and kitchen/dining room downstairs.

The second lot comprises 32 acres and is priced at £300,000(E;380,921).

The third lot is a half acre site (subject to planning permission) for £20,000 (E;25,394).