Lord Henry Mount Charles of Slane Castle dies aged 74, family announces

Lord Henry Mount Charles
, owner of
Slane Castle
in Co Meath, has died at the age of 74, his family has announced.
In a statement, the 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.
'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.'
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Lord Henry Mountcharles praises 'one of the best Slanes ever'
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He was best known 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.
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.'
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Henry Mount Charles: A Lord in Slane – The strange blend of fact and fiction around one of the last Anglo-Irish eccentrics
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Harris praised his 'unrivalled wit, warmth and generosity', and thanked him for bringing music, culture and pride to Co Meath. Fellow Meath man and Minister for State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, said the county 'has lost one of its finest gentlemen', praising his 'innate decency and good humour'. Speaking to us in 2019, Lord Mount Charles revealed it was a 'sharp eyed' radiographer in 2014 spotted something on his right lung after he initially went in with a kidney stone problem. He told us at the time: 'That is the thing, I was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. I was very lucky to get a diagnosis early because I had no symptoms. '[The diagnosis] came about as a result of a kidney stone and a sharp eyed radiography spotted something in my right lung. Other wise I would've been in a lot more trouble.' He said since his cancer diagnosis, he looked at life differently. 'It's been a journey. It has had its ups and downs. I nearly died Christmas a year ago. In fact, I was told my number was up. 'Somehow with brilliant care in St James and a brilliant oncologist, I got through it. (Image: Collins) 'You're damn right (look at things differently). I will be taking a very different approach to this year's show but on a larger thing of course, you appreciate life, and we prioritise things,' he added at the time. Aslan star Billy McGuinness was among the hundreds of tributes yesterday. Speaking to Joe Duffy on his Liveline show on RTE Radio 1, Billy said: 'I've met Henry over the years, because I live in Bettystown, and I would call out to Slane Castle quite regularly. 'He put back into refurbishing the castle, and it's absolutely fantastic now, with the brewing and everything, and his son, Alex, is running the place now.' Lord Henry opened up in 2021 about his battle with alcoholism, which followed a devastating fire at Slane Castle in 1991 that destroyed much of the interior of the building. 'After the fire, I used alcohol as a crutch to deal with a very wounded spirit, and I used spirits to cover over that wound,' he told the Irish Independent. He maintained U2 bassist Adam Clayton, with whom he became close friends in 1984, was 'hugely helpful' in getting him past these woes. (Image: Collins) Henry had taken over the running of Slane from his father at the age of 25 in 1976, after returning home from London, where he worked with book publishers Faber & Faber. He had received a call from his father, Frederick, to say that due to tax impositions, he was going to have to leave Slane and sell up – unless Lord Henry returned home. He wrote in his autobiography: 'I was an Anglo-Irish anachronism tolerated in a modern Ireland...I was returning to an Ireland I loved, but still a country bedevilled by division and much hypocrisy.' He and his first wife, American Juliet Kitson, mother of his three eldest children, divorced in 1985. Lord Henry's funeral arrangements will remain private as the family try to 'navigate this time of loss'. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .