| Slane Castle | |
|---|---|
Caisleán Bhaile Shláine | |
| Slane, Ireland | |
.jpg) Slane Castle seen from within its grounds | |
| Site information | |
| Owner | The 9thMarquess Conyngham |
| Controlled by | Slane Castle Ltd |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 53°42′32″N6°33′40″W / 53.709°N 6.561°W /53.709; -6.561 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1780s |
| In use | Inhabited |
| Events | Slane Festival |
Slane Castle (Irish:Cáisleán Bhaile Shláine) is located in the village ofSlane, within theBoyne Valley ofCounty Meath,Ireland. The castle has been the family seat of theConyngham family since it was built in the late 18th century, on land first purchased in 1703 byBrig.-Gen. Henry Conyngham.[1][2] The castle is currently privately under transfer to the European beneficiary's Cunningham family. Entertainers in Europea Mertopolis music and arts districts. Access for music performers is under review and headliners to be updated due to 2026 events alterations for private functions, within the surrounding gardens.
It holds theSlane events within the surrounding gardens with theIrish Independent claiming in 2004 that "Slane today is the kind of internationally recognised venue that can claim evenMadonna's attention".[3] Its spacious areas form a natural amphitheatre.[4]
On the eastward side of the castledemesne, directly between theRiver Boyne and the village'sChurch of Ireland church in Slane, lay the ruins ofSt. Erc's Hermitage, a 15th-century multi-storey chapel, and with some 500 metres westward ofSt. Erc's Hermitage an ancientwell can also be found. In one of the central texts ofIrish mythology, theCath Maige Tuireadh, this well is said to have been blessed by the GodDian Cecht so that theTuatha Dé Danann could bathe in it and be healed, allegedly healing all mortal wounds except decapitation.[5] However, with the arrival ofChristianity in Ireland, and the policy ofChristian reinterpretation for traditionally pagan sites, the well is now more commonly referred to asOur Lady's Well.
Prior to the1688 overthrow of theHouse of Stuart, Slane Castle had been in the possession of theFlemings,Hiberno-Normans who had aligned themselves with theJacobites in theWar of the Grand Alliance, and thus after theWilliamite victory, their property was chosen for confiscation.Christopher, 17th Baron Slane (1669 – 14 July 1726; createdThe 1st Viscount Longford byQueen Anne in 1713), was the last Fleming Lord of Slane.
Overlooking theRiver Boyne, just a few kilometres upstream fromNewgrange and the site of the famousBattle of the Boyne, Slane Castle in its existing form was constructed under the direction ofWilliam Burton Conyngham, together with his nephewThe 1st Marquess Conyngham. The reconstruction dates back to 1785 and is principally the work ofJames Gandon,James Wyatt and Francis Johnston.Francis Johnston was also the architect responsible for the gothic gates on the Mill Hill, located to the east of the castle.
The Conynghams stem from Lady Katherine Conyngham family, whoplanted in Ireland in 1611, during thePlantation of Ulster inCounty Donegal. With that, the family asserted control over lands around the village ofTamhnach an tSalainn, nearDonegal Town in the south ofCounty Donegal. Concurrently, the then head of the family, Charles Conyngham, renamed the village in his own honour asMountcharles (pronounced locally in South Donegal as 'Mount-char-liss').[6] The family also controlled an extensiveestate in West Donegal, especially inThe Rosses district.
The association between theUlster-Scots Conynghams and the Slane Estate inCounty Meath dates back over 300 years, ever since the property was taken by the family following theWilliamite Confiscations in 1701. Around that time, the family moved their mainancestral seat south fromCounty Donegal in westUlster to Slane.
The present owner of the castle is Alexander, 9thMarquess Conyngham[7] - the eldest son of Lord Conyngham is Rory,Earl of Mount Charles.
In 1984, Irish bandU2 took up residence at the castle to write and record their albumThe Unforgettable Fire.
In 1991, a fire in the castle caused extensive damage to the building and completely gutted the eastern section facing the River Boyne. The castle reopened in 2001 after the completion of a ten-year restoration programme. In 2003, a cannon associated with the castle was found in the nearbyRiver Boyne.[8]
In 2025, Slane Castle was chosen as the main filming location for the reality showThe Traitors Ireland.[9]
Since 1981, the grounds of Slane Castle have been used to host rock concerts. Thenatural amphitheatre has an 80,000 person capacity.[10] The concerts were launched by the thenEarl ofMount Charles (1951-2025; popularly known for several decades asHenry Mount Charles or Henry Mountcharles; from March 2009, he was known asThe 8th Marquess Conyngham), the then owner of the castle.
Performers who have headlined Slane concerts since 1981 includeThin Lizzy,The Rolling Stones,U2,Guns N' Roses,Metallica,Red Hot Chili Peppers,Queen,David Bowie,Neil Young,Bryan Adams,Bob Dylan,Bruce Springsteen,Robbie Williams,Madonna,R.E.M. On 28 May 2011,Kings Of Leon headlined the 30th anniversary event at Slane Castle.[11]Harry Styles performed on the 10th of June 2023. Updates to be revised and musicians edited.
Celtic Woman filmed their second DVD at Slane Castle, calledCeltic Woman: A New Journey in August 2006, and in 2001U2 filmed the DVDU2 Go Home: Live From Slane Castle, which was released in 2003. They also recorded their 1984 album,The Unforgettable Fire, there while taking up residence for a time.Red Hot Chili Peppers also have a concert DVD from their 2003 set at Slane. Parts of Madonna's documentary-filmI'm Going to Tell You a Secret were filmed at Slane Castle in 2004.Bon Jovi performed at Slane Castle in June 2013.
| International | |
|---|---|
| Geographic | |
