The nine-strong crew of Cassidy Walshes, plus the Irish wolfhound and golden retriever, will be in Lissadell for the New Year, waking up to views of Sligo Bay, Knocknarea and Ben Bulben, writes Kathy Sheridan.
The first floor is ready to move into. "Sir Josslyn has done it up exactly as I would have done it so there's no difficulty there," says Constance Cassidy.
There's a "wonderful" stove in the kitchen for her and a digger already lined up for Edward, to start clearing the courtyard. It's about the "challenge", he says.
It's no coincidence that she shares a name with Countess Constance Markievicz. "My father was in love with her," she says.
"So the first thing what attracted me was the Constance connection, the second is that I am always moved when I see Ben Bulben, and third, of course, is Yeats' poetry, which has to stir any Irish person."
As for her husband, he saw "it as a very, very fine house and lands, with significant historical interest and as something which should be minded and protected and preserved. "It's one of the last genuine Irish estates and what shouldn't happen to it is that it becomes a travesty of a golf course or a B&B."
Both are senior counsel. His work on the Midlands circuit takes him across to Sligo regularly. Her expertise in licensing law takes her all over the country. "It will be a second family home or the family home in the west - very much a family home," he says. "Ours are all outdoor kids, all interested in country life. We would try to gear various mid-terms, long weekends, various breaks, and then the summer towards Lissadell."
Lest anyone run away with some giddy notion about rich lawyers and their multi-million euro holiday homes, they are, he insists, "buying it with the assistance of a mortgage".
"Big time," adds Cassidy. "We could have bought a house in Dublin 4 for 3½ million or we could have a challenge". At 30,000 square feet, the house is of "manageable proportions", they say. The roof is sound and the wiring is "reasonably satisfactory".
The plan is to restore the estate to "all its grandeur and finery, as it was at the turn of the century". There will be no clusters of holidays homes or add-ons in this vision of Lissadell. But their vision is, nonetheless, intensely practical and tourism-centred. Existing houses on the estate will probably be restored and rented for long or short term lets.
The 100 x 150 metres coach house could make an entire tourist centre, he believes, incorporating a forge, tearooms, gallery, craft shop, maybe something like a furniture manufacturing unit [the estate once operated such a business] and anyone who comes up with a good idea.
"We are ready to listen - but obviously not to every crackpot suggestion. If there is something novel we haven't thought of, we'd be delighted."
Lacking any passion for golf, he prefers to be a hands-on outdoors man, in gardens or woods.
There is no dearth of opportunities. Two walled gardens, oyster and clam fisheries on the nearby shore and 400 acres of land provide plenty of ideas.
Elanor (11), the eldest, is adamant that she will be in charge of the equine enterprise on the estate. "There will be 400 acres of trekking with natural jumps," she says earnestly. Left to their own resources, says Edward, it could take 15 to 20 years of "time, patience and hard work" to develop Lissadell to its full potential.
"But it could be fast-tracked. We are interested in grants. We see the benefits of opening to the public in terms of tax relief," and the house and grounds can be operated in a way that they can justify themselves.
"We would like to think that we can enhance its attractions, that people will see more of the house, that there will be other interests there that will attract people and that it will be beneficial to the local community and the economy."
Given the "many expressions of interest over the past few months" in Lissadell, he says pointedly, "I'm sure there are many people and bodies, such as North West Tourism, who will want to make the place work, who see it as a focus for tourism".