WHISKEY HISTORY CONYNGHAM FAMILY CONCERT HISTORY

The History Of

Slane Castle Concerts (1981 – 2009)

In the last quarter of a century, music has become central to the tradition of Slane. For years it has played host to the Festival in Great Irish Houses, but it is for the fabulous open air Rock Concerts in the great natural amphitheatre below the Castle that it has become internationally renowned. Act such as U2, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Guns ‘N Roses, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, David Bowie, Queen and REM have performed in Slane. U2, uniquely, have performed three times at the venue – playing support to the renowned Irish band, Thin Lizzy, who headlined Slane with their charismatic singer, Phil Lynott at the first show in 1981.

In 1984 the band lived in the Castle while they were recording THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE. The Drawing Room was converted into a recording studio and one of the videos for PRIDE was filmed in the unique Gothic Revival Ballroom which was created for George IV’s State Visit in 1821. It was all part of the special musical journey of the Castle.

 

16th August 1981

THIN LIZZY
U2/Hazel O’Connor/Rose Tattoo/Sweet Savage/The Bureau/Megahype

24th July 1982

ROLLING STONES
J.Geils Band/The Chieftans/George Thorogood and the Destroyers

8th July 1984

BOB DYLAN
UB40/Santanta/In Tua Nua

1st June 1985

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

5th July 1986

QUEEN
Chris Rea/Bangles/Fountain Head

11th July 1987

DAVID BOWIE
Big Country/Aslan/The Grove

16th May 1992

GUNS ‘N’ ROSES
Faith No More/My Little Funhouse

10th July 1993

NEIL YOUNG
Pearl Jam/Van Morrison/Saw Doctors/James/ 4 Non Blondes/ The Blue Angels

22nd July 1995

REM
Oasis/Spearhead/Sharon Shannon/Belly/Luka Bloom

29th August 1998

THE VERVE
Manic Street Preachers/Robbie Williams/Finlay Quaye/The Sea Horses/James/Junkster

28th August 1999

ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Stereophonics/Placebo/Happy Mondays/Gomez/David Gray/Simon Carmody

26th August 2000

BRYAN ADAMS
Moby/Macy Gray/Melanie C/Muse/Eagle – Eye Cherry/Dara/Screaming Orphans

25th August 2001

U2
Red Hot Chili Peppers/Coldplay/Kelis/JJ72/Relish

1st September 2001

U2
Moby/Ash/Nelly Furtado/The Walls/Dara

21st August 2002

STEREOPHONICS
The Charlatans/Nickelback/Counting Crows/Ocean ColourScene/Doves/The Revs

23rd August 2003

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Foo Fighters/Queens of Stone Age/PJ Havey/Feeder

29th August 2005

MADONNA

18th August 2007

ROLLING STONES
The Charlatans/The Hold Steady/Tinariwen/Frankie Gavin

20th June 2009

Oasis
The Prodigy/Kasabian/Glasvegas/The Blizzards

28th May 20011

Kings of Leon
THE WHIGS/MONA/WHITE LIES/THIN LIZZY/ELBOW