11 hours ago
Lord Henry Mount Charles remembered as a 'people person'
Lord Henry Mount Charles has been remembered as someone who lived his life with the "conviction" that music is a universal language that can bring people together.
The funeral service for the 8th Marquess Conyngham - who died last week aged 74 - took place at St Patrick's Church of Ireland in Slane, Co Meath this afternoon.
As the service came to an end, a recording of U2's song 'Bad' rang out in the packed building.
Lord Henry was then laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard.
In attendance were U2 bassist Adam Clayton, as well as Denis Desmond of promotors MCD, and Dundalk musician David Keenan, who gave a rendition of 'The Parting Glass' during the service.
Aide-de-camp Commandant Joe Glennon represented both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris at the service.
Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar was in attendance, as was local TD and Minister for Education Helen McEntee.
Such were the numbers in attendance, and the size of the church, a live stream of the service was shown in a nearby pub, which too was full.
Lord Henry's son Alex led the tributes during the service.
He said that, in the midst of "palpable political tension", his father was "driven by a conviction that music is a universal language that brings people together".
"That's exactly what happened that day in the field at Slane. People came from all four quarters of the island and there was no trouble, just music.
"That day, the Slane Castle estate was also saved by rock and roll," he added.
Alex said: "Thankfully, the legacy of the concert has continued to protect and sustain it [the estate] ever since and long may it continue to do so."
He said his father was always grateful to the community of Slane and the concerts would not have been possible without their support over the decades.
Alex added that while Lord Henry was never elected to the Dáil or Seanad, he relished the opportunity of knocking on doors when canvassing and listening to people's thoughts and opinions.
In 1992, Lord Henry ran in the general election for Fine Gael, polling fifth in the then-four-seater Louth constituency.
Alex also said that his father taught him about the power, importance and value of making time for people - something he said Lord Henry felt was now being eroded in modern life.
His father, he said, found other ways to express himself in life too, particularly in his weekly column for The Irish Mirror that he was initially "coaxed" into writing.
However, Alex said his father soon loved working for a "red top as opposed to a high-brow broadsheet".
The tribute was also filled with moments of Lord Henry's mischief and his quick turn of phrase through the years.
He was remembered as someone who had a connection with people, both in the Slane community and the wider public.
His son reflected that his father was not a lord that locked himself away in his castle, but rather a people person who shared what he had, creating unforgettable moments for hundreds of thousands since the first Slane concert headlined by Thin Lizzy in 1981.
This was a funeral service very much centered around Lord Henry's family and friends.
His daughter, Tamara Conyngham, also gave a heartfelt tribute to her father titled 'Lessons from Dad'.
She said that he taught her a number of important life lessons, including to be generous with your time, to surround yourself with good people who will get you out of trouble and that if "you're lucky to grow up somewhere as beautiful as Slane, share it".
The number of stories that the family had been told by people over recent days was testament to how generous Lord Henry had been with his time, she added.
Recalling an anecdote about being admonished for going to bed before the last of our guests, Tamara said: "He fought for so long because he didn't want to leave the party and all we can do now is party on in his memory."
An old friend of Lord Henry's, Nick Koumarianos, spoke about the many memories the pair shared.
Although, he said some details would have to be omitted as he was aware he was speaking in a church.
The second reading was read by Adam Clayton, whom Lord Henry considered a close friend and someone who he credited with helping him to get sober.
The choice of 'Bad' by U2 at the end of the service was a nod to the band's 'The Unforgettable Fire' album that was recorded at Slane Castle.
Perhaps, one of the most poignant moments of the day, as Lord Henry Mount Charles left Slane Castle for the final time - a venue that put Ireland on the map for the world's biggest rock 'n' roll and pop stars.
