Take a tour of the Castle and sneak a peek
Posted on 13th April 2023
Fancy a peek behind the scenes at Slane Castle? The very best way is to join one of the regular guided Castle Tours, discover more about the Conyngham family and get a glimpse of many impressive rooms in the ancient Castle which overlooks the River Boyne.
The Conyngham family who have lived in Slane Castle since the 1700s are an eclectic bunch with many fascinating characters enlivening the family tree, not least Lord Henry, father of the current Earl Alex. Lord Henry was responsible for putting Slane Castle on the international map as a stellar rock concert venue. Maybe you have your own memories of an iconic Slane concert – were you there at the very beginning when Thin Lizzy headed the bill supported by U2 and Hazel O’Connor? Perhaps you saw Bruce Springsteen, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, REM or David Bowie.
On the tour you’ll hear about flirtatious liaisons with royalty and delicious hints of scandal. Experience the perfect acoustics in the truly magnificent George IV Ballroom. See where U2, who lived at Slane Castle for six months, recorded The Unforgettable Fire. Hear about the horrific real fire that engulfed part of the Castle one Tuesday in November 1991.
Everything at Slane Castle echoes with history and tradition and a guided tour is the very best way to discover it for yourself.
Guided Castle Tours take place at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays (book online). Castle Tour tickets includes admission to our Walking Trail. Browne’s Bar, full of fascinating rock memorabilia, is open for lunch (11am-4pm). Slane Distillery, in one of the Castle Courtyards is also open with tours and experiences.
Private Tours are available on request.
