Slane castle stands atop a commanding bank of the River Boyne about a mile west of the crossroads at Slane Village.
The Caslte gates, pictured below, are at the bridge crossing at Slane, and are amongst the first things you see in Slane coming from Dublin. The path beyond them, to the Castle, is private. The Gothic arch and turrets are a wonderful work of architecture.
The Normans
The castle itself was built by the Norman conquerers The Flemings. A portion of the original castle is incorporated into the now larger castle, built in the Georgian style.
The English
The Castle was bought by the Coyninghams after the Battle of the Boyne when the estate was confiscated by the victorious King of England. This family has held it ever since, presently represented by Henry Lord Mountcharles.
Lord Mountcharles' stewardship of the castle is marked by the rock concerts
he has promoted on the castle lawn, a discotheque nightclub and one-time restaurant,
and a tragic fire that gutted much of the castle in late 1991, including its
famous ballroom ceiling.
U2
Before the fire, in the 1980's, the rock group U2 recorded their fourth album in the castle, entitled "The Unforgettable Fire". On the morning of the day I was to visit the castle, my aunt had to tell tme the awful news that the castle had burned down the night before. I was able to see the castle smoldering from a perch on the bridge over the Boyne.
The Cottage of the Poet Francis Ledwidge
The Town: History, Lodging, Pubs and Restaurants, Shops
Slane Castle & Concerts