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Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Lord Mount Charles obituary: aristocrat who turned castle into rock venue
'Lord Henry', as the 8th Marquess Conyngham liked to be known in his native Ireland, was a figure of riotous incongruity. Aristocrat and entrepreneur, bohemian and businessman, a sometime poet, journalist, publisher, parliamentary candidate, publican and peer of the realm; he was primarily known as the man who transformed his family's estate at Slane, Co Meath, into one of the most glamorous rock venues in Europe. Though born into the purple of the Anglo-Irish nobility, he realised from an early age that it was a birthright which might, had he embraced it more fully than he did, have excluded him from his claim to his Irish identity. Accent, class and an English public school education were usually enough to cause people like Mount Charles to be frequently asked in their own country the derogatory question: 'How are you enjoying your holiday here?' However, Mount Charles ignored the naysayers. He went on to forge an exceptional career whose apogee is sometimes described as the moment he introduced U2 at one of their first main public appearances at Slane Castle in 1981. Had it stopped there, this would have been sufficient to grant him a place in the pantheon of music promoters. A veritable cornucopia of headline acts followed at Slane, including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, David Bowie, Oasis and Neil Young. The pastoral setting, provided by a natural amphitheatre that sloped down to the River Boyne, wasn't always tranquil. Shortly before Dylan took to the stage, a wave of drunken fans rioted in Slane village, smashing windows and attempting to burn the police barracks. Security was tightened for later events at the 80,000-capacity venue, and Slane Castle achieved something akin to Glastonbury in the international concert calendar. Henry Vivien Pierpoint Conyngham, 8th Marquess Conyngham, Earl of Mount Charles, Viscount Slane and Baron Minister of Minster Abbey in the County of Kent was born in 1951. His mother, Eileen (née Wren Newsome), was of Anglo-Irish stock and a legendary huntswoman. She showed the doughty spirit inherited by her firstborn, Henry, when Slane Castle was invaded by protesters objecting to the Mount Charles ownership of fishing rights over the River Boyne. She let in 50 rescuing police officers by throwing the castle key in a jar of face cream out of her bedroom window. Lady Mount Charles's divorce from her husband, Frederick Conyngham, the 7th Marquess, known as Mount, divided Anglo-Irish Society. From the dashing couple who hosted hunt balls and glamorous dinners, they became estranged when Mount married a lover. Henry's mother never married again. The marquess moved to the Isle of Man as a tax exile when Ireland introduced a wealth tax. Lady Mount Charles lived on in Ireland until the age of 92, claiming, jokingly, that her longevity was solely aimed at annoying her children. Mount Charles was educated at Harrow and Harvard. His father was disappointed that he did not take the more traditional Oxbridge route, dismissing Harvard as 'not the sort of place where a descendant of Sir Christopher Wren will find solace'. At Harrow, he was known for his wit and dramatic flair rather than for any scholastic achievements. Prowess on the sporting field also evaded him. He only ever won a running event, memorably wearing odd socks, a habit he then adopted as being talismanic for the rest of his life. The young Viscount Slane, as he then was, adapted quickly to the American way of life. He described his time at Harvard as 'both a cultural awakening and a moral education, which shaped my confidence to speak out on a whole range of topics that might have escaped me had I become one of the oafs at the Bullingdon'. One of the topics was the Vietnam War. In his journalism, he often referenced his Harvard-era student debating background, especially noting the parallels between Nixon's Watergate and later American political turbulence. Mount Charles married Juliet (née Kitson). They had a daughter and two sons, the eldest of whom, Alexander, succeeds his father in the peerage as the 9th Marquess Conyngham. He divorced his first wife in 1985 and married Lady Iona Grimston, daughter of the 6th Earl of Verulam, who was a Conservative MP and later sat as a Conservative peer in the House of Lords. They had one daughter. He is survived by his wife, children and two brothers. In the mid-1970s, when Lord Mount Charles, as he had then become, took over Slane Castle from his father, Ireland was navigating a challenging economic malaise during which the large estates of the Anglo-Irish struggled to survive. Mount Charles had been working as an editor at Faber & Faber and enjoying a London life when he was obliged to return home to take over a chipped and faded mansion and a substantial tract of land. On inheriting, he said that he was 'ill-equipped' to run a large estate because the only thing he had learnt from his father was 'how to drink good claret at an early age and how to stand still while wearing heavy tweeds'. On moving into Slane Castle, he immediately set up a restaurant and a nightclub in the castle, which attracted patrons such as the controversial politician Charles Haughey, who had recently been embroiled in a law trial in which he was charged with the importation of arms into Ireland for use by the IRA in Northern Ireland. The Troubles cast a long shadow over Ireland at the time, and the houses of people like the Conynghams were sometimes viewed with suspicion by republicans. In his autobiography Public Space — Private Life: A Decade at Slane Castle (1989), he wrote: 'I was an Anglo-Irish anachronism … returning to an Ireland I loved but still a country bedevilled by division and much hypocrisy.'' In the television documentary A Lord in Slane (2024), he commented on the difficulties of navigating sectarian suspicion and the threats aimed at him by republicans when he hosted the U2 concert in 1981. Politically, he was aligned with the Fine Gael party, led until 1987 by Garret FitzGerald. Traditionally, it was seen as the Irish party more sympathetic to the Anglo-Irish ascendancy class as it embraced a policy of pluralism and inclusivity. In the 1992 Dail elections, Mount Charles stood as a Fine Gael candidate, polling a respectable 4,161 votes but failing to win a seat. He was also approached by the party to run for the European parliament, but eventually became disillusioned with what he called 'the stagnation of the party's constitutional agenda'. Mount Charles leaves behind a unique cultural legacy that paved the way for other enterprising landowners in Ireland to save their crumbling houses and breathe new life into an often-stagnating heritage. A gifted raconteur with a flair for publicity, he became a flamboyant media personality unafraid to express his controversial views on politics in a changing Ireland. He became the master promoter of the idea that the old Irish aristocracy could embrace change without surrendering its identity. Mount Charles was not beyond sending up his ancient background. He particularly enjoyed telling stories of his great-great-great-grandmother's affair with King George IV and pointing out items at Slane Castle which he would describe as 'got through the King's mistress'. Lord Mount Charles, 8th Marquess Conyngham, rock promoter, was born on May 23, 1951. He died of cancer on June 18, 2025, aged 74
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Family of Slane Castle's Lord Henry Mount Charles say to ‘party on in his memory'
The loved ones of Slane Castle's Lord Henry Mount Charles will 'party on in his memory', his funeral service has been told. His funeral was held at St Patrick's Church of Ireland in Slane on Wednesday, following his death at the age of 74 last week after a long battle with cancer. Advertisement During the service, Alex Conyngham said his father 'truly loved' Ireland despite initially struggling with his Anglo-Irish identity. Since 1981, Lord Henry, a rock fan, hosted a series of open-air concerts at his ancestral home of Slane Castle in Co Meath. The Slane estate, which acts as a natural amphitheatre due to its sloping lands, has played host to several top acts including The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, U2 and Madonna. The last Slane Festival was in June 2023, when Harry Styles performed for 80,000 fans. Advertisement His son, the ninth Marquess Conyngham, recalled a joke by Frank Kelly that described his father being 'born with a silver dagger in his back' with his unconventional but privileged position at Slane Castle. Lord Henry Mount Charles. Photo: Hayden West/PA He said his father was 'immensely lucky' to have had a 'colourful string of people' working on the estate for which he was grateful as they 'rolled through the good times and the occasional dark days' including when the castle was significantly damaged by a fire in 1991. Alex Conyngham said: 'Dad initially struggled with his Anglo-Irish identity, and described it as feeling like he had a leg either side of the Irish Sea with each side treating him as something of an outsider. 'It was when he went to Harvard and immersed himself in the study of Irish history that that fog of uncertainty lifted.' Advertisement He said it was there that he realised that, as an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, he belonged to one of the 'many streams' that fed Ireland and could make positive contributions towards the country. 'Politically, he was a passionate constitutional Republican, and he truly loved this country, its culture and people, and he counted himself blessed to be an Irishman.' However, he noted that not everyone agreed with this perspective and the castle walls had previously been defaced with aggressive, negative graffiti. 'But this only emboldened dad to strive all the harder.' Advertisement Alex Conyngham said his father had a great commitment towards peace, and it also came to him that he had to open up the castle gates while being 'driven by a conviction that music is a universal language that brings people together.' The first 'real breakthrough' came with a Thin Lizzy concert in 1981, with U2 and Hazel O'Connor also on the bill. Adam Clayton (right) arriving at St Patrick's Church of Ireland in Slane. Photo: Mark Marlow/PA At a time of financial difficulty, he said Slane Castle was 'saved by rock and roll'. Alex Conyngham also paid tribute to Lord Henry's interest in politics, saying his father 'loved to connect'. Advertisement Although his political ambitions were unrealised, he found other ways to express his opinions – including the 'Lord Henry' column in the Irish Mirror. After saying Lord Henry was blessed to enjoy the love of two remarkable women – his first wife Eileen and his second wife Iona, he thanked his father for trusting him with his legacy. He added: 'Dad's thanks and mines to all of you in Slane and online who have gathered here to say 'slan' to Henry.' The service featured readings by Lord Simon Conyngham and Wolfe Conyngham, as well as U2 member Adam Clayton. Lord Henry's daughter Tamara read a tribute called 'lessons from my dad', which included: 'Never give up, ever.' She said: 'Dad was one of the most determined people that I know and he proved what can be achieved when you truly put your mind to it.' Also recalling an anecdote about being admonished for going to bed before the last of our guests, she added: '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.' The final tribute during the service came from Lord Henry's friend Nick Koumarianos. Mr Koumarianos said he knew Lord Henry as a 'hell of a cool dude', adding: 'He was tall, he was handsome, he was titled and, by the way, he knew it.' However, he said there was 'no silver spoon' for the aristocrat, saying the castle needed serious attention. Amid stories about Henry's business abilities and 'sense of mischief', he said his friend had 'put Ireland on the map' for generations of pop music fans around the world. In a remark met with widespread laughter, he added: 'He had real commercial skills although on one occasion I do remember him saying: 'always do your accounts in pencil – and don't press too hard'.' Ireland Slane Castle revealed as location for The Traitors... Read More Mr Koumarianos said Lord Henry was a glutton for punishment who seemed to be refreshed by adversity, including clashing egos at concerts, the fire at the castle and its reconstruction, success of Slane whiskey and then his final illness. He said Lord Henry was 'always relished the challenge, adding that he was a 'mighty man' who bore his illness with 'remarkable courage'. Following the service, his coffin was carried out of the church while Bad by U2 played.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Family of Henry Mount Charles will ‘party on in his memory', Slane funeral hears
The loved ones of Slane Castle 's Henry Mount Charle s will 'party on in his memory', his funeral service has been told. His funeral was held at St Patrick's Church of Ireland in Slane on Wednesday, following his death at the age of 74 last week after a long battle with cancer. During the service, Alex Conyngham said his father 'truly loved' Ireland despite initially struggling with his Anglo-Irish identity. Since 1981, Lord Henry, a rock fan, hosted a series of open-air concerts at his ancestral home of Slane Castle in Co Meath. READ MORE [ Ireland was a rock'n'roll backwater when Henry Mount Charles brought Dylan, Springsteen and The Rolling Stones to Slane Opens in new window ] The Slane estate, which acts as a natural amphitheatre due to its sloping lands, has played host to several top acts including The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, U2 and Madonna. The last Slane Festival was in June 2023, when Harry Styles performed for 80,000 fans. His son, the ninth Marquess Conyngham, recalled a joke by Frank Kelly that described his father being 'born with a silver dagger in his back' with his unconventional but privileged position at Slane Castle. Lord Henry Mount Charles' son, Alex, the Marquess Conyngham (centre) at St Patrick's Church of Ireland in Slane. Photograph: Mark Marlow/PA Wire He said his father was 'immensely lucky' to have had a 'colourful string of people' working on the estate for which he was grateful as they 'rolled through the good times and the occasional dark days' including when the castle was significantly damaged by a fire in 1991. Alex Conyngham said: 'Dad initially struggled with his Anglo-Irish identity, and described it as feeling like he had a leg either side of the Irish Sea with each side treating him as something of an outsider. [ Henry Mount Charles obituary: Affable, striking figure who brought rock music to Slane Opens in new window ] 'It was when he went to Harvard and immersed himself in the study of Irish history that that fog of uncertainty lifted.' He said it was there that he realised that, as an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, he belonged to one of the 'many streams' that fed Ireland and could make positive contributions towards the country. 'Politically, he was a passionate constitutional Republican, and he truly loved this country, its culture and people, and he counted himself blessed to be an Irishman.' However, he noted that not everyone agreed with this perspective and the castle walls had previously been defaced with aggressive, negative graffiti. 'But this only emboldened dad to strive all the harder.' Henry Mount Charles's wife Iona (left) and family members. Photograph: Mark Marlow/PA Wire Alex Conyngham said his father had a great commitment towards peace, and it also came to him that he had to open up the castle gates while being 'driven by a conviction that music is a universal language that brings people together.' The first 'real breakthrough' came with a Thin Lizzy concert in 1981, with U2 and Hazel O'Connor also on the bill. [ Henry Mount Charles: a life in pictures Opens in new window ] At a time of financial difficulty, he said Slane Castle was 'saved by rock and roll'. Alex Conyngham also paid tribute to Lord Henry's interest in politics, saying his father 'loved to connect'. Although his political ambitions were unrealised, he found other ways to express his opinions – including the 'Lord Henry' column in the Irish Mirror. After saying Lord Henry was blessed to enjoy the love of two remarkable women – his first wife Eileen and his second wife Iona, he thanked his father for trusting him with his legacy. He added: 'Dad's thanks and mines to all of you in Slane and online who have gathered here to say 'slan' to Henry.' The service featured readings by Lord Simon Conyngham and Wolfe Conyngham, as well as U2 member Adam Clayton. Adam Clayton arriving at St Patrick's Church of Ireland in Slane, Co Meath. Photograph: Mark Marlow/PA Wire Lord Henry's daughter Tamara read a tribute called 'lessons from my dad', which included: 'Never give up, ever.' She said: 'Dad was one of the most determined people that I know and he proved what can be achieved when you truly put your mind to it.' Also recalling an anecdote about being admonished for going to bed before the last of our guests, she added: '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.' Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar arriving for the funeral of Henry Mount Charles. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. The final tribute during the service came from Lord Henry's friend Nick Koumarianos. Mr Koumarianos said he knew Lord Henry as a 'hell of a cool dude', adding: 'He was tall, he was handsome, he was titled and, by the way, he knew it.' However, he said there was 'no silver spoon' for the aristocrat, saying the castle needed serious attention. Amid stories about Henry's business abilities and 'sense of mischief', he said his friend had 'put Ireland on the map' for generations of pop music fans around the world. in a remark met with widespread laughter, he added: 'He had real commercial skills although on one occasion I do remember him saying: 'always do your accounts in pencil – and don't press too hard'.' Helen McEntee, Minister for Education and Youth at the funeral. Photograph: Mark Marlow/PA Wire Mr Koumarianos said Lord Henry was a glutton for punishment who seemed to be refreshed by adversity, including clashing egos at concerts, the fire at the castle and its reconstruction, success of Slane whiskey and then his final illness. He said Lord Henry was 'always relished the challenge, adding that he was a 'mighty man' who bore his illness with 'remarkable courage'. Following the service, his coffin was carried out of the church while Bad by U2 played. - PA
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Family of Lord Henry Mount Charles say to ‘party on in his memory'
The loved ones of Slane Castle's Lord Henry Mount Charles will 'party on in his memory', his funeral service has been told. His funeral was held at St Patrick's Church of Ireland in Slane on Wednesday, following his death at the age of 74 last week after a long battle with cancer. During the service, Alex Conyngham said his father 'truly loved' Ireland despite initially struggling with his Anglo-Irish identity. Since 1981, Lord Henry, a rock fan, hosted a series of open-air concerts at his ancestral home of Slane Castle in Co Meath. The Slane estate, which acts as a natural amphitheatre due to its sloping lands, has played host to several top acts including The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, U2 and Madonna. The last Slane Festival was in June 2023, when Harry Styles performed for 80,000 fans. His son, the ninth Marquess Conyngham, recalled a joke by Frank Kelly that described his father being 'born with a silver dagger in his back' with his unconventional but privileged position at Slane Castle. He said his father was 'immensely lucky' to have had a 'colourful string of people' working on the estate for which he was grateful as they 'rolled through the good times and the occasional dark days' including when the castle was significantly damaged by a fire in 1991. Alex Conyngham said: ' Dad initially struggled with his Anglo-Irish identity, and described it as feeling like he had a leg either side of the Irish Sea with each side treating him as something of an outsider. 'It was when he went to Harvard and immersed himself in the study of Irish history that that fog of uncertainty lifted.' He said it was there that he realised that, as an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, he belonged to one of the 'many streams' that fed Ireland and could make positive contributions towards the country. 'Politically, he was a passionate constitutional Republican, and he truly loved this country, its culture and people, and he counted himself blessed to be an Irishman.' However, he noted that not everyone agreed with this perspective and the castle walls had previously been defaced with aggressive, negative graffiti. 'But this only emboldened dad to strive all the harder.' Alex Conyngham said his father had a great commitment towards peace, and it also came to him that he had to open up the castle gates while being 'driven by a conviction that music is a universal language that brings people together.' The first 'real breakthrough' came with a Thin Lizzy concert in 1981, with U2 and Hazel O'Connor also on the bill. At a time of financial difficulty, he said Slane Castle was 'saved by rock and roll'. Alex Conyngham also paid tribute to Lord Henry's interest in politics, saying his father 'loved to connect'. Although his political ambitions were unrealised, he found other ways to express his opinions – including the 'Lord Henry' column in the Irish Mirror. After saying Lord Henry was blessed to enjoy the love of two remarkable women – his first wife Eileen and his second wife Iona, he thanked his father for trusting him with his legacy. He added: 'Dad's thanks and mines to all of you in Slane and online who have gathered here to say 'slan' to Henry.' The service featured readings by Lord Simon Conyngham and Wolfe Conyngham, as well as U2 member Adam Clayton. Lord Henry's daughter Tamara read a tribute called 'lessons from my dad', which included: 'Never give up, ever.' She said: 'Dad was one of the most determined people that I know and he proved what can be achieved when you truly put your mind to it.' Also recalling an anecdote about being admonished for going to bed before the last of our guests, she added: '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.' The final tribute during the service came from Lord Henry's friend Nick Koumarianos. Mr Koumarianos said he knew Lord Henry as a 'hell of a cool dude', adding: 'He was tall, he was handsome, he was titled and, by the way, he knew it.' However, he said there was 'no silver spoon' for the aristocrat, saying the castle needed serious attention. Amid stories about Henry's business abilities and 'sense of mischief', he said his friend had 'put Ireland on the map' for generations of pop music fans around the world. in a remark met with widespread laughter, he added: 'He had real commercial skills although on one occasion I do remember him saying: 'always do your accounts in pencil – and don't press too hard'.' Mr Koumarianos said Lord Henry was a glutton for punishment who seemed to be refreshed by adversity, including clashing egos at concerts, the fire at the castle and its reconstruction, success of Slane whiskey and then his final illness. He said Lord Henry was 'always relished the challenge, adding that he was a 'mighty man' who bore his illness with 'remarkable courage'. Following the service, his coffin was carried out of the church while Bad by U2 played.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Two men jailed for murder of man in a row over stolen cannabis
Two drug dealers have been sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court for murdering a promising young footballer who had stolen €6,000 worth of cannabis. Muna Ali, the mother of the deceased man Mahamud Ilyas (22), wrote a statement that was read out at Monday's sentencing hearing for her son's murderers, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24). Advertisement She described Mahamud as a good son and a lovely young man who had "high hopes for a career in football". She added: "Everybody in the family loved him and he had a lot of good friends. He was a good brother, especially to his sisters, and was like a father figure when his father was not in Ireland." The trial heard that Doroscan and Clejan beat Mr Ilyas by stamping on him, kicking him, and striking his head with a hammer at an apartment in Blanchardstown in Dublin. They tied his hands and feet, wrapped him in a duvet and travelled to a wooded area at Belgree Lane in Co Meath where they left their victim to die from his injuries. Advertisement Ms Ali said reliving the nightmare of her son's death has left her devastated. She said: "He was left in the middle of nowhere with no respect. The way he died was so painful and I feel helpless that I could not help him... They took his future, he was so young and full of life. My son was everything to me." Handing down the mandatory sentence for murder, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said Doroscan and Clejan had suffered a "massive loss of control and reason" when they assaulted Mr Ilyas. However, a distressing aspect of the crime, he said, was the "disrespectful and callous way in which the seriously injured Mr Ilyas was dealt with." Advertisement By the time they had driven to Belgree Lane, Mr Justice Hunt said their "passions should have cooled". Nevertheless, they "parcelled Mr Ilyas up" and left him. Whatever chance he had of surviving the assault was "snuffed out by their callous actions", the judge said. Extending his sympathy to the family, he added: "The loss is unimaginable for those who have not had the misfortune to find themselves in that situation." Doroscan, of Bay Meadows Square, Hollystown, West Dublin, and Clejan, with a former address at Verdemont, Blanchardstown, Dublin pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022. A jury convicted them of murder by unanimous verdict earlier this year. Advertisement Gardaí discovered Mr Ilyas's body at Belgree Lane the day after the murder following a tip-off from a member of the public. Detective Garda Sean O'Farrell today told the court that Clejan had no relevant previous convictions while Doroscan had two for possession of drugs and one for possession of drugs for sale or supply. Robert Burns (59), who lived at the apartment in Verdemont where the assault took place, previously pleaded guilty to impeding the arrest or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan by cleaning Mr Ilyas's blood from the carpet and walls. Another co-accused, Lorenzo Cantaragiu (22), of Castlegrange Park, Blanchardstown, was found guilty by a jury of four counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan. Advertisement Cantaragiu drove the two killers to Belgree Lane with Ilyas in the back and later cleaned blood from the back seat before selling the car. Lawyers for Cantaragiu and Burns will make submissions to the court on July 4 before Mr Justice Hunt sentences them. Det Gda O'Farrell told prosecution counsel Eoin Lawlor SC, with Jane Murphy BL, that Clejan and Doroscan were using Burns's home to store drugs. On December 8th 2022 Mr Ilyas entered Mr Burns's home and stole a bag of drugs, which Burns estimated was worth €6,000. Mr Ilyas spoke to Doroscan on the phone that night and offered to sell some of the drugs back to him for €500. Ireland Checklist on safe surgery practice not found in an... Read More They arranged to meet the following afternoon. When Ilyas went to Verdemont, Clejan and Doroscan got him on the floor where they demanded he tell them where he had put the drugs, beat him with hammers and used their feet to stamp and kick him in the torso and head. Doroscan recorded part of the assault on Snapchat. Both Clejan and Doroscan claimed they acted in self-defence after Mr Ilyas attacked them with a crowbar. Doroscan claimed that Mr Ilyas was alive and screaming abuse when they left him at Belgree Lane. State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head using a blunt object such as a hammer, blows, and kicks. She said death could have occurred anywhere between 30 minutes and up to five hours after the attack but that the deceased would have become unconscious very quickly.
