Slane Castle is located in the town of Slane, in the Boyne Valley in County Meath, Ireland. The castle has been the family home of the Conyngham family since the 18th century. [1]

It keeps Slane Concert event within its grounds, with the Irish Independentclaimed in 2004 that “Slane today is the type of internationally recognized place that can claim even Madonna attention”. [2] Its sloping lawns forms a natural amphitheater. [3]

History

View of the River Boyne, just a few kilometers upstream from Newgrange and site of the famous Battle of the Boyne, where Slane Castle in its current form, constructed under the direction of William Burton Conyngham, along with his nephew, 1st Marquess Conyngham. The reconstruction dates back to 1785 and is mainly the work of James Gandon, James Wyatt and Francis Johnston. Francis Johnston was also the architect responsible for the gothic gates at Mill Hill, which is located east of the castle.

The Conynghams is originally a Scottish Protestant family, who planted in Ireland in 1611, during the Plantation of Ulster County Donegal. Thus, the family claimed control over land around the village Tamhnach a tSalainn , near Donegal Town in south County Donegal. Meanwhile, the then head of the family, Charles Conyngham, renamed the village in its own glory as Mount Charles (pronounced locally in South Donegal “Mount-char-Liss). [4]The family is also controlled a substantial property in West Donegal, especially in The Rosses district .

The relationship between the Ulster-Scots Conynghams and Estate Slane in County Meath goes back over 300 years, since the property was purchased by the family after Williamite Confiscation in 1701. Around that time, the family moved their main ancestral seat of south County Donegal in western Ulster Slane.

Prior to Slane Castle had been in possession of Fleming’s, Anglo-Norman Catholics who had joined the Jacobites in the War of the Grand Alliance, and thus efterWilliamite victory was their property eligible for confiscation.Christopher, 17th Baron of Slane (from 1669 to 1614 in July 1726, created The 1st Viscount Longford from Queen Anne1713), was the last Fleming lord Slane. The current owner of the castle is Henry Conyngham, which styles itself [5] as the 8th Marquess Conyngham. The eldest son of Lord Conyngham Alex, Earl of Mount Charles.

1991, a fire in the Castle caused extensive damage to the building and completely gutted the east overlooking the River Boyne. The castle was opened again in 2001 after the completion of a ten-year restoration program.In 2003, a cannon in connection with the castle found in the nearby River Boyne [6]

On the east side of the castle demesne, directly between the River Boyne and the village church of Ireland church in Slane, lay the ruins of St. ERC Hermitage, a 15th-century multi-story chapel, and with about 500 meters west of St. ERC Hermitage an old well can also be found. In one of the central texts of Irish mythology, the Cath Maige Tuireadh is, this well is said to have been blessed by God Dian Cecht so that the Tuatha Dé Danann could bathe in it and be cured, allegedly heal all fatal wounds except beheading. [7] but with the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and the policy of the Christian reinterpretation of traditional pagan places, it is well now more commonly called Our Lady’s well.

Live at Slane

Main article: Slane Concert

Since 1981, the grounds of Slane Castle used to host rock concerts. The natural amphitheater has a 80,000 person capacity. [8] The concerts was opened by the then Earl of Mount Charles (popularly known for decades that Henry Mount Charles, since March 2009, he has been known as the 8th Marquess Conyngham), the owner of the castle.

The models headed Slane concerts since 1981 include The Rolling Stones, U2, Robbie Williams, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, David Bowie, Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Guns N ‘Roses, Madonna, REM, Foo Fighters, Celtic Woman and Oasis. On May 28, 2011 Kings Of Leon captioned 30th anniversary event at Slane Castle. Five support act plays, including Thin Lizzy, as in a previous line-up titled first Slane Concert 1982. [9]

Celtic Woman filming her second DVD at Slane Castle, called Celtic Woman: a new journey in August 2006, and U2 filmed the DVD U2 Go Home: Live From Slane Castle in 2001, but the DVD was released in 2003. They also played their 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire , where while the residence for a time. Parts of Madonna’s documentary film , I’ll tell you a secret filmed at Slane Castle in 2004. Bon Jovi performed at Slane Castle in June 2013.

References

  1. Jump up ^ Slane Castle History: A Brief History of Henry, eighth Marquis Conyngham Slane Castle
  2. Jump up ^ rainy days and festivals Independent.ie, July 10, 2004
  3. Jump up ^ U2 and Slane Castle tool for 20-year reunion RTÉ News, August 24, 2001
  4. Jump up ^ http://www.welovedonegal.com/tv-mountcharles.html
  5. Jump up ^ Article 40.2 of the Irish Constitution prohibits the state gives nobility titles and a citizen may not receive titles of nobility or honor except with the prior approval of the government, is present titles of the peerage considered anachronistic, noble titles or peerage is thus regarded as simply the courtesy titles. ” 40.2 “(PDF), the Constitution of Ireland, Dublin: Stationery Office
  6. Jump up ^ Slane Cannon find News File ; Retrieved May 31, 2011
  7. Jump up ^ Cath Maige Tuireadh . Elizabeth A. Gray (trans.)
  8. Jump up ^ A history of Slane Castle concerts since 1981 Slane Castle
  9. Jump up ^ Up to 80,000 down on Slane Irish Times, May 28, 2011