The new owners of Lissadell House in Co Sligo have expressed frustration at not being able to purchase the house's contents.
Mr Edward Walsh SC told RTE's The Late Late Show last night that he and his wife, Ms Constance Cassidy SC, wanted to buy the contents "not for our benefit but for the benefit of the house on public display".
The house "needs to be preserved in its natural state", Mr Walsh said adding that he would like to keep it open to the public for more than 150 days each year.
Referring to the more valuable contents, Ms Constance Cassidy said: "These are national treasures. . . People won't come into the house if it's a half-empty shell."
HOK Fine Art and Christie's are displaying the contents this weekend and are due to auction them on Tuesday.
High Court proceedings are pending regarding eight of the 636 lots featured in the catalogue - seven gasoliers (gas lit chandeliers) and one organ.
The auctioneers say the legal challenge, taken by An Taisce against the former owner, Sir Josslyn Gore-Booth, does not have an impact on the sale of remaining 628 lots.
Ms Cassidy said that "every penny we spend on the auction is a penny that's taken away from rebuilding the house".