Henry Mount Charles, owner of Slane Castle in Co Meath, has died. He was 74.
Popularly known as Lord Henry, he was best know for introducing a series of rock concerts to Slane Castle. Bands who played there include U2, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Guns N’ Roses, REM and Bruce Springsteen.
In a statement his family said he died on Wednesday night. He had been suffering from cancer.
“A beloved husband, father, grandfather and custodian of Slane Castle, Lord Henry’s courage and unwavering spirit inspired all who knew him,” the statement said.
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“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 said they “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.”
Born in 1951 in Dublin’s Rotunda hospital, his first school was Headfort prep school in Kells, Co Meath. Following this he went to the fee-paying Harrow school in England, former alma mater of Winston Churchill. He followed this up by attending Harvard University in the United States.
As an Anglo-Irish peer he was styled Viscount Slane until 1974 and then Earl of Mount Charles from 1974 until 2009 when, on the death of his father, he became the Most Hon Henry Vivien Pierpont Conyngham, 8th Marquess Conyngham. The marquesses Conyngham held the right to sit in the British House of Lords, until 1999.
But he was popularly known as Lord Mount Charles, or Henry Mount Charles, an eminently successful rock promoter who held rock concerts at Slane Castle at least in part to fund its upkeep and to restore the castle after a fire in 1991, which destroyed the eastern section facing the river Boyne. The castle reopened in 2001 after the completion of a 10-year restoration programme.
[ Henry Mount Charles: a life in pictures Opens in new window ]
[ Henry Mountcharles praises ‘one of the best Slanes ever’Opens in new window ]
Tributes were led by President Michael D Higgins, who said: “Lord Henry’s contribution was 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,” the President said.
Some of the world’s best-known acts played at Slane over five decades including Thin Lizzy, who headlined the inaugural concert on August 16th, 1981. The event also featured support acts including U2 and Hazel O’Connor. Other acts who played at Slane Castle over the years include Metallica, Kings of Leon, Neil Young, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Madonna, Robbie Williams, Bryan Adams and Oasis.
In 2015 he and his son Alex opened a distillery in an old stable yard at Slane Castle, and launched the Slane Irish whiskey brand. The brand was sold to Brown-Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel’s, which invested €50 million and established a new distillery and visitor centre at Slane Castle.
He unsuccessfully contested the Louth constituency for Fine Gael at the 1992 general election. He was also unsuccessful in his bid for a Seanad seat in 1997.
In 1971, he married Juliet Ann Kitson and they had three children: Alexander, Henrietta and Wolfe. The couple were divorced in 1985.
In 1985, he married Lady Iona Charlotte Grimston. They have one daughter, Tamara.
His autobiography Public Space – Private Life: A Decade at Slane Castle was published in September 1989 by Faber & Faber.
This article was updated on June 20th, 2025.
