Lord Henry Mount Charles of Slane Castle has died, aged 74

Lord Henry Mount Charles, the eighth Marquess Conyngham, of Slane Castle, has died. His family this morning announced the passing of the 74-year-old.

The owner of the famous concert venue on the banks of the Boyne had been living with cancer for over a decade.

In a statement released this morning, the family said: "It is with profound sadness that the family of Lord Henry Mount Charles, the Marquess Conyngham, announce his peaceful passing in the late hours of 18th June following a long and valiant battle with cancer. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and custodian of Slane Castle, Lord Henry’s courage, and unwavering spirit inspired all who knew him.

"Lord Henry (74) leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as a passionate steward of Ireland’s heritage, dedicating his life to preserving Slane Castle and transforming it into a beacon of culture, music, and community. His visionary leadership and generosity touched countless lives, while his warmth, humour, and resilience endeared him to friends, colleagues, and admirers across generations.

"The family wish to express their heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional staff at St James’s Hospital, as well as the many caregivers who supported Lord Henry with compassion over the last decade. They are also deeply moved by the outpouring of public kindness and solidarity during this difficult journey.

"As they navigate this time of loss, the family kindly requests privacy to grieve and reflect on Lord Henry’s remarkable life. Funeral arrangements will remain private.

"Lord Henry’s light will continue to shine through the lives he enriched and the enduring contributions he made to Ireland’s cultural landscape. He will be profoundly missed, but never forgotten."

He had taken over the running of the Slane estate as a 26 year-old in 1976, after returning home from London, where he worked with publishers, Faber. He had received a call from his father, Frederick, saying that due to tax impositions, he was going to have to leave Slane, and it would have to be sold, or Henry would have to come home.

The castle had become an iconic rock venue since Thin Lizzy first performed there in 1981, and became internationally known when the 1999 Robbie Williams concert was broadcast to the world by Sky TV.

Some 18,000 people attended that first concert on 16th August 1981, an apprehensive time as hunger strikes were taking place at the time in Northern Ireland, and Anglo-Irish estates were being targeted. But it was successful, and was followed in the early years by the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Queen, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Guns n Roses, Neil Young, the Verve, Robbie Williams, and into the noughties with return visits from U2 and the Stones, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Stereophonics, Madonna, Oasis, Bon Jovi, Kings of Leon and Foo Fighters. Crowds reached 80,000 at the best-selling gigs on Henry’s lawn. The most recent was by Harry Styles in 2023. The Dylan concert in 1984 was marred by riots in the village.

In 1984, U2 recorded their ‘Unforgettable Fire’ album at Slane Castle. But in 1991, the castle was destroyed by a real fire, with valuable antiques and paintings, but thankfully no lives, lost. The crash of the Lloyds insurance company around the same time, of which he was an underwriter, caused further financial strain. In 1986, he published s memoir, 'Public Space – Private Life: A Decade at Slane Castle'.

In 1992, Henry Mount Charles ran in the general election for Fine Gael in the Louth constituency, polling 4,161 votes.

In 2017, with a €50 million dollar investment from Brown-Forman, makers of Jack Daniels, the Mountcharles family launched Slane Irish Whiskey and opened the distillery and visitor centre at Slane Castle. Last Christmas, he was the subject of an absorbing documentary, 'Henry Mount Charles: A Lord in Slane', shown on RTÉ television.

Lord Henry is survived by his wife, Lady Iona, and family, Alexander, Henrietta, Wolfe, and Tamara. He and his first wife, American Juliet Kitson, mother of his three eldest children, divorced in 1985. His mother, Eileen, Countess of Mountcharles, of Galtrim, Dunsany, died in December 2016, and he also has two brothers, Simon and Patrick.

In March 2009, Henry Mountcharles became the eighth Marquess Conyngham on the death of his father, Frederick, and under the peerage title system, his son, Alex, assumed the title Earl of Mountcharles.

President Michael D Higgins stated: “It is with great sadness that I have learned of the passing of Lord Henry Mount Charles.

"Lord Henry’s contribution was quite unique and a very important turning point in live music in Ireland when he decided to begin using the natural amphitheatre at Slane Castle as a venue at which public performances could be held by some of the most contemporary makers of music.

"It wasn’t just in relation to very well known events that Henry was involved, he had a deep interest in promotion of music including new and young talent. I have been saddened over recent years to hear of his struggles with cancer, about which he spoken personally and helpfully of his experiences.

"May I express my condolences to his wife, Lady Iona, to his children Alexander, Henrietta, Wolfe and Tamara, and to all of his family and friends.”