RTÉ has confirmed the famous Co. Meath castle is the dramatic setting for the much-anticipated series of "The Traitors" Ireland, which will be coming to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player later this year.
Filming has just concluded on the Irish version of the hit TV show that has gripped audiences around the world, including award-winning versions in the UK, US and the Netherlands.
Alex Mount Charles, son of Lord Henry, said hosting the TV show will put Slane on the international map, with "Traitors" fans expected to descend on Slane once the series airs.
"I think it’s going to present us in a new light," he told Extra.ie.
"It’s a castle full of stories and I think this is going to add another very exciting chapter to those stories. There is a huge, not just national, but global buzz around the show and I think it’s going to be very exciting for our collective future. I think it’s going to help put Slane on the map and Ireland on the map so we certainly would welcome that."
Slane is best known as the setting for one of Ireland’s most spectacular annual rock concerts, a tradition which was initiated by Alex’s father Lord Henry.
And Alex said it was important to him to continue that work as an estate with so much heritage must constantly evolve.
Alex Mount Charles.
He told how his father is amused that film crews have returned as he initially promoted Slane as a location for films before he had the idea of hosting rock concerts.
"He is amused," Alex said. "We are still living here on the top floor, so living in the middle of a film set is an unusual one.
"I grew up with a bit of that. I can remember 'The Great Train Robbery' here with Sean Connery and others as a kid. This is a little different and a little more intense."
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He added that Kite Entertainment, the production company behind "The Traitors" Ireland, had been great to work with and were very respectful of the castle and its inhabitants.
"Living in the middle of a set will make for a few stories for the kids in the future, that’s for sure," he added.
"The Traitors" Ireland will use the iconic Meath castle as its location and will feature contestants from around the country, following a national casting call for applications last year.
Presented by Cork-born actress and "Derry Girls" star Siobhán McSweeney, "The Traitors" Ireland will follow a similar format to the British show and will see contestants being "murdered" on the banks of the Boyne River as the historic building provides the backdrop for all the mind games, missions, and unexpected twists that make the reality show one of the most popular in the genre.
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The nail-biting psychological reality competition sees a group of strangers arrive at a remote castle to play the ultimate game of deception, betrayal and trust, all in the hope of winning a cash prize of up to €50,000.
But hidden amongst them are the Traitors, who will attempt to secretly murder a player every night without getting caught.
It’s up to the others, the Faithfuls, to try to detect who the Traitors are, and banish them from the game before they become the next victim.
Each day, the group embarks on missions as they work together to add more money to the prize pot.
For the lucky ones who survive to the end, they have the chance of winning that life-changing cash, but if a Traitor remains undetected, they’ll steal all the money. Slane Castle’s towering walls will be the perfect place for contestants, who were chosen after a nationwide search, to plot their next move in an effort to go home with the money.
Over the past few weeks, Slane village has been buzzing with excitement as filming commenced. And while there were other venues in the running for the location, Alex is thrilled Slane will now be on screen, after initially ensuring there would be no negative impact on the building or its grounds.
Slane Castle, County Meath.
"The great thing with the castle and the grounds is there’s such an array of different rooms and scenery and I think that’s what got everyone excited," he said.
"Slane Castle may be our home, but it was built for entertaining.
"Having 'The Traitors' here is an enthralling evolution of this theme as the dramatic setting of the castle and its grounds now provide the backdrop for world-class entertainment on the screen. The whole team at Kite Entertainment have dug deep on this one."
He added: "Everything we do here is about protecting this place for the future – we’re not the owners, we are just the people looking after it."
Gráinne McAleer, head of documentaries and series at RTÉ, thanked the Mount Charles family for allowing the show to be filmed at Slane Castle.
"It was a real privilege to work in such a fantastic location," she said.
"Slane has been an ideal production base."
She added: "The castle is suitably imposing, and the Boyne Valley makes for a stunning backdrop. We can’t wait to bring it to RTÉ audiences this year."
Darren Smith of Kite Entertainment described Slane Castle as the perfect home for "The Traitors" Ireland.
He said: "We can’t wait for viewers to see all the high drama unfold as our cast banish and murder each night."
"The Traitors Ireland" will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player later in this year.
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* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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