Slane Castle, County Meath - there are over 300 years of history here, from the castle's first major reconstruction under the direction of William Burton Conyngham in 1785, to the famed concert that revolutionized the Irish music scene in the 1980s, to the delicious Irish whiskey distilled there today.
Slane Castle in County Meath is a cultural and historical touchstone in the landscape of Ireland.
Slane and The Conynghams
The Hill of Slane, which overlooks the Castle, is where St. Patrick lit his paschal fire, following which he was summoned by the High King to Tara, and Ireland was subsequently converted to Christianity. Nearby is Newgrange, one of the earliest and most significant and dramatic structures in Western Europe. The historic Battle of the Boyne was fought just downriver.
The Conynghams are originally a noble Scottish family, and settled in Ireland in 1611 in Co. Donegal. There has been an active association between the Conynghams and the Slane Estate dating back over 300 years, ever since the property was purchased by the family following the Williamite Confiscations in 1703.
Albert Conyngham and his son Major General Henry Conyngham fought in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, and the Major then went on to purchase the land that Slane Castle — and Slane Distillery — now rest on. His relatives and descendants were committed to the area, with William Burton Conyngham planning out and improving the Village of Slane in 1781.
The Castle itself is one of the most exciting historic buildings on the island and displays the collective talents of some of Ireland and England’s most distinguished architects. The parklands were laid out by the distinguished landscape architect, Capability Brown.
Slane: The Concert
Slane’s name is familiar to rock ‘n roll fans the world over. Since launching in 1981 by Henry Conyngham, the Slane Castle Concert series has attracted more than 1 million rock ‘n roll fans who flock annually to the estate’s idyllic grounds. Headliners have included David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, U2, Madonna, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and Oasis.
Thin Lizzy headlined Slane with their charismatic singer Phil Lynott at the first show in 1981. In 1984 the band lived in the Castle while they were recording The Unforgettable Fire. The Drawing Room was converted into a recording studio and one of the videos for Pride was filmed in the unique Gothic Revival Ballroom which was created for George IV’s State Visit in 1821.
Slane: The Whiskey
Slane Irish Whiskey is a bold, new take on Ireland’s legendary spirit. Created by Brown-Forman, a leader in whiskey since 1870, and the Conyngham family , it unites craftsmanship and innovation. These two historic families rooted in shared values have joined together to introduce this unique Irish whiskey.
Slane Irish Whiskey marries traditional Irish craftsmanship with innovations like its signature Triple Casked maturation process. Using virgin, seasoned and sherry casks, the resulting spirit is bold, yet smooth and more robust and complex than a traditional blended Irish whiskey. Its striking black bottle calls out its distinctive flavor and unconventional approach that embodies the pride of Slane.
* For more information about Slane Irish Whiskey, please visitwww.slaneirishwhiskey.com, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/slanewhiskey,on Twitter at @SlaneWhiskey and on Instagram at @SlaneWhiskey.
