Where would rock and roll be today without Henry Mount Charles?
God bless Henry – few called him Lord Mount Charles - and the odd socks he loved to wear when I first met him.
Kudos too for hanging in there, despite setbacks in the early days that might have forced lesser mortals to throw in the towel.
In 1981, I hopped on a bus to Slane to watch my favourite rock band Thin Lizzy inaugurate Slane Castle as an outdoor venue to rival the Hollywood Bowl.
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A natural amphitheatre if ever there was one, it is perfectly situated on the green grassy slopes of the Boyne and overlooked by a storied 18th century castle.
On a hot August day, in a country mired in mournful news around the 1981 hunger strikes and despite threats that the concert should not go ahead, Phil Lynott strode out on stage with his cheeky grin.
At the height of his vocal powers, he lifted the spirits of 20,000 fans, the largest crowd he would ever sing to in Ireland.
The occasion subtly marked an imminent changing of the guard. Lizzy were supported by northside Dublin upstarts U2 and their set already included two crowd-pleasing anthems, Out of Control and I will Follow.
Phil Lynott was back in the castle grounds the following year drinking champagne from the boot of a limo in the VIP area, while waiting for the Rolling Stones to take to the stage.
I was back too at the end of a weeklong assignment covering the build-up to Ireland's biggest ever rock concert, courtesy of the Irish Press newsdesk.
Unable to get a room in Slane's Conyngham Arms Hotel, I persuaded a local housewife to allow me to pitch a tent in her garden in case I needed to spend an overnight in the village.
Henry was greatly amused when I told him about my fallback plan as he toured the village one evening with Bill Graham, the America impresario overseeing the Stones tour of Europe.
One afternoon I found myself unexpectedly standing beside Mick Jagger as he surveyed the stage a couple of days before the concert.
He was just telling me how much he loved Ireland when Bill Graham rocked up on his quad and demanded to know if I had submitted a request to interview Mr. Jagger. Hardly, I said, I had no idea I was going to bump into him.
A muscle-bound bodyguard moved between me and the now silent Mr Jagger.
Bill was only too happy to talk about his own exploits in the music industry, but he did keep one thing to himself.
As later reported, Keith Richards sent him a note threatening to cancel the July 24th concert if all profits did not go to the families of the eleven soldiers who were killed by the IRA during military ceremonies in Hyde Park and Regent's Park, just four days before the concert.
The threat of cancellation must have been stomach-churning for Henry and the local promoter Jim Aiken given the work already done preparing the site for 80,000 fans.
The gig was a game changer for the Irish music industry but the following year there was no Slane as Henry took a breather.
Would he be back?
In 1984, Bob Dylan was announced for Sunday, July 8th, as the headline act.
I wasted no time booking into the Conyngham Arms Hotel.
On the Saturday, the sun was beating down and I cooled off in the River Boyne, swimming behind the backstage area.
Early in the afternoon, I got an uneasy feeling mingling with the large crowds of people drinking and smoking on the main street as tractor-loads of hay trundled by.
Darkness was falling when a disturbance broke out. An arrest led a drunken crowd of youths to attempt setting fire to the Garda station.
And so began a long day's journey into night with gardai being drafted in from Dublin and elsewhere to quell the rioting which quickly spread.
Eventually, I went to bed, figuring Sunday would be a busy day but with any luck I would still get to see and hear Mr Dylan.
That was not to be as more bad news followed. Two young men drowned trying to swim across the Boyne to see the concert.
The tragedy is immortalised in the Paul Durcan poem that begins: 'I saw close up the make-up on Bob Dylan's face!'
It was a devastating blow.
Henry voiced doubts about staging any future concerts. Jim Aiken had a few cross words with me over breakfast in the hotel about the Monday morning headline 'Slane says never again.'
But both men were made of sterner stuff.
They bounced back the following year when Bruce Springsteen played to what was then the largest crowd of his career to date.
So nervous was he, that, to Henry's delight, the Boss decided to play the full set for a small audience in the Castle the night before.
'After Slane, it just got bigger and bigger for him,' said Henry. And, thereafter, a steady procession of rock royalty beat a path to his lordship's door.
It's only rock and roll but Henry liked it, and he stuck with it, yes, he did.
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The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
How Bertie Ahern stepped in as U2 demand ushered in law change to allow two Slane gigs after national fury
ALL-POWERFUL U2 convinced the Irish government to change the laws to allow them to play two Slane concerts in a week. Gig organisers believed they could sell out TWENTY times such was the demand to see the rockers in 2001, but planning laws made more than one gig all but impossible. 6 U2 demand convinced the former Taoiseach to change laws to allow another performance in the same week Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd 6 The gig at Slane Castle was a major sell-out, with tickets for the second show snapped up in less than two hours Credit: PA:Press Association 6 Lord Henry Mount Charles' son revealed how Bertie stepped in and solved the issue Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin But when the first concert on August 24 sold out in 45 minutes, triggering a national fury, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern decided to make Slane 2 happen. Bertie told the Irish Sun: 'You could see the momentum building around it. I mean the law was the law, and you couldn't have the concert, and that was it. 'I think it was the late PJ Mara, a personal friend of (U2 manager) Paul McGuinness, who said, 'Listen, this would be a pity to see this go'. 'But it did require us to change the system. So I think that's how it came around to my desk, and we acted on it. I think it took a bit of maneuvering just to get it right.' Alex Conyngham, whose dad Lord Henry Mount Charles hosted the gig, told us: 'Bertie stepped in to help get it done. So that was a good Irish solution to a problem.' Ticketing chief Tommy Higgins told the final episode of the Fields Of Dreams podcast that demand for the gigs was unprecedented. He said: 'I remember the tickets going on sale on a Saturday morning out of HMV and around the country. 'But you knew at the at the start I probably could have sold 600,000 tickets that day the demand that was there. And you would have sold Slane out with the people coming from America alone.' From the outset in 1981, the gigs at Slane Castle, in Co Meath, were always one-day affairs. In 1984 they were almost finished for good when thousands rioted in the streets before the Bob Dylan concerts. Dave Browne from iconic Irish band Picturehouse talks about Sunburst's success Promoters and Lord Henry fought to secure its future, and in 1986 Mountcharles wrote to locals promising Slane would be one gig a year. In 2000, despite local opposition, Meath County Council granted permission for one gig a year in 2000, 2001 and 2002, strictly on a Saturday in either May, June, July or August. FAST-TRACKED LEGISLATION After U2 sold out rapidly in March 2001, the clamour grew for a second gig, which would have to take place in September. New legislation was fast-tracked in April 2001 removing the need for planning permission or any right to appeal by An Bord Pleanala. Bertie said: 'Having looked at the legal complexities at the time with the Attorney General and the departments, the only way around was for me to front up a change to the procedures, and of course, like everything in life, there were those who were for it and against it. 'Not that they were against U2. But they saw this as a precedent that could be used, and they said it was jumping the planning laws.' SOLD-OUT SHOW Tickets for Slane 2 on September 1 sold out in 94 minutes, and Ahern was a guest of the band. It was the same day Ireland beat the Netherlands 1-0, which put them on the road to World Cup 2002. Alex said: 'We showed the game during the gig because obviously it would have been unpatriotic not to. 'So anyway it went up on the big screen and I was chatting to the guys who were running the bars, and they were a bit concerned because the beer sales were down because they're watching the match. 'And then, of course, Ireland scored and 80,000 pints went up in the air and the beer sales just went through the roof.' As for the gigs themselves, 160,000 people were there to witness two events for the ages. 'SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE' Slane boss Alex said: 'I get goosebumps thinking about the amazing moments, when you're in the middle of the song and the band just suddenly become overwhelmed by how with them the crowd is, and they actually go quiet and the crowd do the singing and they just take that in. 'And if you're part of that and you're singing your lungs out at the Castle and you're seeing a sea of people in unison enjoying that moment, it is a spiritual experience. 'You only get a few of those really magic moments in a gig. But when they happen they're pretty mind-blowing.' The final episode of the series also hears from musicians on the drugs, booze and rock 'n' roll circuit of the Seventies onwards. It also recalls the special place Lillie's Bordello held in the hearts of local and overseas acts. The Dublin venue hosted stars including Bruce Sprinsgteen, Mick Jagger and actress Julia Roberts over the years, while a table was permanently reserved just for Bono in case he was in town. The VIP bar saw first Paul Harrington and then Dave Browne from Picturehouse on piano, charged with entertaining the entertainers. Some nights were weirder than others. 'BIZARRE' MOMENT Harrington remembered: 'Prince was in there for a little time. Nobody else allowed in. And I think it was a girlfriend. And a minder. And there was me. 'I had two of my brothers in beside me at the piano and a friend of ours, who was over from Canada. So I just said to whoever it was, 'Look, they're here, they're guests of mine'.' But the Purple Rain singer wanted them to leave. Eurovision winner Harrington added: 'I said, 'Well then, we'll all go together, and let Prince sit on his own'. Anyway, we all stayed. 'It was bizarre. He was looking for a banana split. So they had to send out for this to get made up. Show business! 'About three hours later, I'm still playing, trying to entertain him, sweating bullets, saying, 'What am I going to sing next?' 'But he was very appreciative. That was the type of place it was.' TV STARS AT VENUE Some of the ex-RTE TV football panel were also regulars. He said: 'People like Johnny Giles and Liam Brady and all doing party pieces, it was just pretty wonderful. 'Giles would be up singing Don't Cry For Me Argentina. Liam Brady's party piece was Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town.' As for Eamon Dunphy? Harrington explained: 'He's a good guy and he would sing, but he would take over a bit. My job was to intervene if somebody became annoying to everyone else. 'I remember funny moments like Dunphy swanning in and Karen Millen, the fashion designer, was sitting with gorgeous champagne, and he grabbed the bottle out of the bucket, and then there was water and ice splashing everywhere. He was doing that as a prank and a gag. And he bought a new one.' Episode ten of Fields Of Dreams is available now. 6 Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern fast-tracked new legislation for Slane show Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription 6 U2 frontman Bono in action Credit: Reuters
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Irish Caminos: On Brigid's Way, we learn that it is better to bend than break
Some people are drawn to pilgrimage walks for religious reasons. Others for more secular concerns – such as a bit of exercise or a rewarding pint at journey's end. Brigid's Way caters for all tastes. That's fitting since Brigid herself means different things to different people. Celebrated in both Christian and pre-Christian history, she has been reimagined in recent years as a pertinent symbol of Irish feminism. The Brigid's Way path was conceived a little over a decade ago as a means of connecting Ireland's foremost landmarks of worship for Brigid. Its starting point is her birthplace, a holy well in Faughart, Co Louth. From there, pilgrims meander south, ticking off sacred sites and eventually, by the ninth leg of the trail, they reach the Curragh. There lie the plains Brigid famously acquired from the king of Leinster when she cast her miraculous, ever-expanding cloak. READ MORE As well as relevant landmarks, the shape of Brigid's Way is informed by the swanlike Cygnus constellation, a prominent fixture in the sky at the time of her birth. Guided walks of these carefully plotted trails take place once a month between February and October. On this Sunday in August, on walk seven of nine, we are somewhere in the belly of the swan. We set out in northwest Kildare at Donadea Forest Park, a reasonable 14km from this leg's destination, Robertstown. [ Irish Caminos: Read the rest of the series ] Siobhán Madden and her father, Paddy, share leadership duties. Siobhán's role is to contextualise the pilgrimage and guide us towards a spiritual connection with Brigid. It is a glorious morning, and the forest introduces itself in dappled light, which pokes through greenery and landing on the moss and mulch of the forest floor. Siobhan Madden at the start of the walk in Donadea Forest Paddy's expertise is more parochial, leading walkers through a maze of historical points of interest. He tells the story of the park's long-time owners, the Aylmer family, zoning in on Gerald George Aylmer, who inherited the 15,000-acre demesne over 200 years ago at the age of 18. In Paddy's telling, Aylmer is to Donadea Forest Park what Gaudi is to Park Güell in Barcelona. Aylmer shaped the place in his image, constructing a wall around the estate and digging a lake. He even built an ice bank, which now looks like a large bunker buried beneath a conspicuous mound of soil. Jumping between centuries, a 9/11 memorial sits just off a stony path in the park, erected to remember Irish-American firefighter Sean Patrick Tallon, whose father was born nearby. Tallon died in the North Tower of the World Trade Center while responding to the September 2001 attacks in New York. The 9/11 memorial Just to the right of the sculpture is a grey stone pulpit, sitting idly in the shadow of the trees and decorated with a Celtic cross. By luck or design, it is a fitting picture. Cill Dara translates to 'church of the oak', referring to the church Brigid founded in the shadow of an oak tree when she acquired her land in the Curragh. Here is the intersection of history and mythology, and for all we know, one of the Donadea oaks is about to deliver its own sermon. We pass a small section of Slí Mór, one of Ireland's ancient roads, that brings us to St Peter's Church and an adjacent mausoleum housing some of the Aylmers. There are more sprawling tales. An older church on the site was thought to have been built by St Patrick. In fact, Domhnach Dheá, the Irish for Donadea, is likely to be a reference to Patrick, given he is associated with old churches in Ireland that carry Domhnach (the Lord's Day) in their name. Moving off-road, we clamber and scrape our way through the forest, encountering nettles, more brilliant light and a pet cemetery for animals that spent years enjoying this walk. Paddy's work is done when we hop a small wall to exit the forest and fall into a single-file formation along the edge of a main road. The obstacles are gone now but the ground is harder beneath our feet. In contrast to the wildness behind the wall, the human impact of tarmac and cut grass is stark. We come through the village of Staplestown and a smattering of hulking, stand-alone new builds all following the same design. There is a church, a small garden centre and a Japanese restaurant embedded in a GAA club. By all accounts, it has been a hit with locals. Just to the south lie the towns of Clane and, in an ill-fated attempt at nominative determinism, Prosperous. Robert Brooke, an Irish-born British lieutenant-colonel, tried to establish a textile industry in the area with a focus on cotton manufacturing in the late 1700s. It was a disaster, but Brooke's choice of name lives on and provides fuel for a local joke, that a Prosperous man should marry a Clane woman. Quieter roads follow, lined with ferns, meadowsweet, thistle and butterflies. Cars shuffle past curiously and infrequently. With so much packed into the morning, it feels like a long stretch to our halfway point, Ballynafagh Lake, which was built in the 18th century to supply water to the Grand Canal. Here, the ground is soft and spongy, inviting boots deeper; Siobhán recommends going barefoot. On the banks of the lake, she shares poetry in the realm of pilgrimage as we break for packed lunches. Some walkers dip their toes in the water and others seek a spot of shade. Gentle efforts are made not to disrupt the serenity of the moment. One of the poems, its author unknown, uses the edge of a leaf as a symbol for life and adventure, encouraging readers to push beyond the comfort of the stem. Siobhán and Paddy Madden Later, Paddy tells me how it resonated with him, recalling a seanfhocal, 'is fearr lúbadh ná briseadh' – it is better to bend than break. Part of the joy he derives from the pilgrimage, he explains, is rooted in a deviation from safety and comfort. In his mid-70s, Paddy jaunts through the trail handily, stooping occasionally to inspect interesting stones and flora. Though Ballynafagh is only the halfway point in terms of distance, the rest of the journey is direct and goes by quicker. Some of the pilgrims have completed other routes along the Brigid's Way path and some, like me, are just joining in for the day. Over the final kilometres, there is as much opportunity to chat as there is to spend time with your own thoughts. Motivations are different for each of us, but a feeling of community is unavoidable. Factoring in the stops, we have been going for close to six hours when we turn the corner into Robertstown. A small, scenic village, it delivers on the promise of Ballynafagh Lake, built to overlook a glistening stretch of the Grand Canal. Feeling tired but with a sense of accomplishment, we fall in the door of Charlie Weld's pub. Some pilgrims have fallen further back as the day has worn on, and it takes a few minutes for the entirety of the group to convene. Settled, it is hard to know what part of the swan we are drinking in. A framed newspaper article on the wall reveals a relevant detail about Weld's. For the past 130 years it has been run by four generations of women. It is a fact that might yield a smile of approval from a certain patron saint. Series concluded
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Robbie Williams in Dublin: Stage times, set list, ticket information, how to get to Croke Park and more
English singer-songwriter Robbie Willams returns to Dublin to play Croke Park on Saturday, August 23rd, as part of his highly anticipated Robbie Williams Live 2025 tour. The former Take That bandmember starred in the 2024 biographical musical drama Better Man , which sees Williams portrayed as a CGI chimpanzee. The film follows his journey from childhood to his time as the youngest member of the chart-topping band, through to his achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges of enormous fame and success. Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards , winning Best British Male Artist four times. READ MORE When and where will he play? Robbie Williams will play at Croke Park, Dublin, on Saturday, August 23rd. Are tickets still available? A limited number of tickets for Saturday's concert are available from Ticketmaster . How does my ticket work? The organisers have advised concertgoers to download their tickets from the Ticketmaster website or app on to their phones in advance of the event. Screenshots will not work as the barcodes on the tickets are live and updated regularly. Where should I go if I have a problem with my ticket? The Ticketmaster box office will be located at Mountjoy Square East. Who are the support acts? Manchester bands Elbow and The Lottery Winners have been confirmed as special guests. What time should I arrive? Doors open at 5pm, with the support acts expected to begin at 5.30pm. How do I get there and home again? Fans should allow for sufficient travel time to and from the venue. As traffic and parking delays are inevitable, you are encouraged to walk, cycle, use public transport and private coach services. Travel information is available on the Transport for Ireland travel planner . By train : The nearest railway station is Drumcondra, which is about a five-minute walk from Croke Park. The closest Dart stations are Connolly, which is a 15-20 minute walk, and Clontarf Road, which is a 20-25 minute walk. To make your journey easier, Iarnród Éireann has added a full schedule of extra services before and after both events. Additional services 8.00am Cork to Mallow will operate through to Dublin Heuston 10.15am Waterford to Dublin Heuston 11.00am Dundalk to Dublin Connolly 11.12am Athlone to Dublin Heuston 14.20pm Greystones to Dublin Connolly 14.50pm Bray to Dublin Connolly 23.40pm Dublin Connolly to Dundalk 00.30am Dublin Heuston to Galway 00.30am Dublin Connolly to Greystones 00.32am Dublin Connolly to Howth 00.35am Dublin Heuston to Kildare 00.40am Dublin Heuston to Cork (with connection to Limerick Colbert) By Luas : The closest Luas stop on the Red Line is Parnell and, on the Green Line, Marlborough (from northside) and O'Connell Upper (from southside) – both a 15-minute walk. By bus: Dublin Bus routes 1, 7, 13, 14, 16, 19, 27a, 29a, 31a, 31b, 32, 33, 40, 40b, 40d, 41, 41b, 41c, 42, 43, 44, 53, 123 and 122 serve Croke Park. Expressway is working with the concert's promoters and offering return coach services both days from Cork, Limerick and Galway to Croke Park. Other commercial coach operators, like Concert Buses , Irish Concert Travel , Concert Bus , Concert Express , Murray and Son Coaches , will also serve Croke Park By car: There is no public parking at Croke Park and traffic cordons will be in place at least two hours before the event. The organisers advise against parking in local residential areas. If you must drive you are advised to use a car park in the city centre, like Claremont Parking or Q-Park, and then get public transport to the venue. By bike: The nearest Dublin bike locations are on the North Circular Road and at Mountjoy Square. There are cycle locking facilities around the stadium, including the Cusack Stand car park and two-tier bike storage in the Davin Stand car park. What's the deal with all the different venue entrances? Your ticket will tell you which entrance to use. If you go to the wrong entrance you will be denied entry. There are four entrances: Blue route: Enter via Jones Road/Russell Street (for Hogan Stand Seating/Premium Seating). Red route: Enter via St James Avenue off Cloniffe Road (for Cusack Stand Seating/Premium Seating). Yellow route: Enter via St Margaret's Avenue (for Davin Stand Seating). Green Route: Enter via Foster Terrace (for Standing). What will Robbie Williams play? Robbie Williams is likely to play new music along with tracks from the film Better Man. You can expect the setlist to look similar to that played at Forus Travbane in Stavanger, Norway, on August 13th this year. Rocket Let Me Entertain You Song 2/Seven Nation Army/Livin' on a Prayer (snippets) Monsoon Rock DJ Love My Life Strong The Road to Mandalay Supreme Tripping/Better Man/Sexed Up/Candy (Snippets) Relight My Fire (Dan Hartman cover) Something Beautiful Millennium Theme From New York, New York (John Kander cover) Come Undone Kids You Can Call Me Al/I Love Rock 'n' Roll/Take On Me/YMCA/All You Need Is Love (snippets) She's the One (World Party cover) My Way (Claude François cover) Feel (Encore) Angels (Encore) What's the story with security? Strict security checks will be in operation; everyone will be subject to a search. Due to health and safety regulations, there are no camping/collapsible chairs permitted on site. Concertgoers are advised not to bring large bags/backpacks as they may experience delays or be refused entry. There will be no storage facilities on site. Bags larger than A4, signs/flags bigger than A3, flag poles, glass or cans, umbrellas, alcohol, selfie sticks, flares, professional cameras and audio recording equipment will not be permitted; see the full list of prohibited items on MCD's website . Soft, collapsible water skins permitted in seated blocks. No hard plastic, metal or glass reusables permitted. There will be free water points for pitch customers. What about disabled access? If you have a general admission ticket and would benefit from accessible accommodation you can request it here . Please note that all forms close five days in advance of the event date. Accessible ticketholders don't need to contact the concert organisers as they will be contacted directly regarding accessible parking options. All accessible parking must be arranged in advance. Anything else I should know? Standing areas are 14+ only. All under-16s must be accompanied by an adult over 25 at all times. Unaccompanied under-16s will be refused entry without a refund. This concert is not recommended for those under five years of age. What's the weather forecast? According to Met Éireann , there will be sunny spells on Saturday with scattered showers developing through the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees in light southerly breezes.
