Everyone knows Slane Castle it seems – and for most of them the connection is as an iconic rock concert venue. It definitely is that, but it’s a lot more besides. Have you ever considered taking a guided tour and finding out a bit more about this fascinating Castle?
Lord Henry put Slane Castle on the map back in the 1980s and he’s still intricately connected with his ancestral home. It’s his son Alex Conyngham who is now Earl of Mount Charles and he lives in the Castle with his wife Carina and their young family. Slane Castle has a fascinating history intertwined with that of the Conyngham family who have lived here since 1703.
Slane Castle is one of the most architecturally exciting buildings in Ireland. The Ballroom is a highlight, completed in 1821 for the visit of King George IV, it’s an impressive round room with a magnificent domed ceiling and is one of the finest examples of Neo Gothic works in Ireland. Because of its design it has perfect acoustics and is where U2 recorded The Unforgettable Fire album.
You really will get to follow in the footsteps of royalty and rockstars as you soak up the history on guided Castle tours taking in 18th century interiors and the very colourful family history.
Tours are led by a knowledgeable and entertaining guide and run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Slane Castle contains many family treasures and mementos one of which is a beautiful book, printed in Latin in the 1700s. It belonged to Francis Nathaniel Burton-Conyngham (1797-1876) who owned it as a teenager and didn’t scruple to put his own mark on it! He seems to have enjoyed practicing his signature and adding his own drawings. He written the date 1814 on one page; he would have been 17 years old then. Francis became Earl of Mount Charles on the untimely death of his older brother in 1824. He had a varied career, in politics, in the military and as a courtier in the Royal household. He married Lady Jane Paget and they had six children.