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Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
How Henry Mount Charles brought Dylan, Springsteen and The Rolling Stones to a former rock'n'roll backwater
When Henry Mount Charles , who died on June 18th at the age of 74, first reframed his ancestral home of Slane Castle as a signature rock venue in 1981, it must have been more in hope than expectation. Ireland was then a rock'n'roll backwater rarely included on the touring schedule of the big international acts of the day, as it had a severe shortage of decent-sized venues. The backdrop of violence and the hunger strikes in the North did not help, but the Republic had succeeded in making itself a dispiriting place on its own. Fintan O'Toole, in his book We Don't Know Ourselves , outlined the grim picture. 'The number of unemployed people had doubled over the course of the 1970s. Mass emigration was back. There was a balance of payments crisis and government debt was out of control ... The whole project of making Ireland a normal Western European country was in deep trouble.' Yet there must have been some optimism in the music business, as in 1981 Slane had to compete with music festivals in Macroom, Co Cork, Ballisodare, Co Sligo, Castlebar, Co Mayo, and Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. Most of those events were headlined by Irish acts, however – as indeed was Slane. Thin Lizzy were nearing the end of their career at the top, but supporting them that day in August was a four-piece on the rise from Dublin: U2 . READ MORE Although only about 25,000 people attended the first Slane concert, its success paved the way for future events and for Henry Mount Charles' emergence as a public figure of note. Slane's natural amphitheatre could safely accommodate numbers much greater than the modest first event. In addition, it was near Dublin and could be reached by bus or car in a relatively short time. [ Henry Mount Charles: A Lord in Slane – The strange blend of fact and fiction around one of the last Anglo-Irish eccentrics Opens in new window ] Rock music is a business. The bigger the audience, the easier it is to attract leading acts. Pay them the money and they will come. And so it proved, with the likes of The Rolling Stones , Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen happy to park their caravans down by the Boyne. Springsteen's concert in front of an estimated 65,000 fans marked an important shift in his career: it was the first time he and the E Street Band played in front of a stadium-sized outdoor audience. It would be the first of many lucrative concerts. As the profile of Slane grew, Mount Charles lapped it up. Although concerts were generally partnerships with the likes of MCD Productions and Aiken Promotions , Henry was the public face of the event. He was no less a performer than those artists he welcomed to Slane. Concert days were celebrated in high style with the great and the good in the castle. [ Foo Fighters, Oasis, U2, the Rolling Stones and more: Slane's 15 greatest acts – in reverse order Opens in new window ] He was keenly aware of the value of good publicity and no slouch when in search of it. The money generated by the concerts was a windfall of sorts, but, crucially, it allowed him to underpin the finances of the castle and its grounds, developing other projects, such as the Slane whiskey brand , and helping to provide the resources to overcome setbacks such as the fire of 1991. Although a very public personality, the young Henry Mount Charles – he was in his early 30s in 1981 – was good and genial company, interested in the world beyond his castle walls and indeed beyond his elite social milieu. Embracing the rock'n'roll world afforded him the opportunity to experience the thrill of meeting great artists and celebrities while banking enough to retain and maintain his beloved Slane Castle for future generations. That concert idea was good fortune indeed. Joe Breen wrote about rock music for The Irish Times from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Disappearing down a hole
Sir, – Fintan O'Toole (' Official reports are disappearing down the Irish 'memory hole'. ' June 17th) identifies a problem that extends far beyond Irish government reports. The phenomenon of 'unpublishing' is rife globally. I have found a number of accounts of speeches that I have referred to in previous research across a wide range of topics hard to retrace ie they have completely disappeared from internet search engines, despite my having details of date etc. This is especially the case when what was said no longer suits the current moment. Thus, I can imagine that right now support for net zero and tackling the climate emergency is going to vanish from the online record of speeches by many public figures as long as Trump is in power. READ MORE Public figures should of course be free to change their minds, but it is sad that they should be able to erase the record of their previous opinions so easily. – Yours, etc. PROF ADRIAN GUELKE Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
I thought Paul McCartney had sent me a gift after my cancer diagnosis
I was headed to the Borris Festival of Writing & Ideas in Carlow to play a very public game of Would You Rather? recently with my friend Paul Howard . I've known Paul, who writes Ross O'Carroll Kelly in this newspaper, for 30 years. In all that time we'd never been on a road trip together. It turns out we're not really road trip people. It took us about four hours to get from Dublin to Borris on account of the fact that we stopped en route for a coffee and a pecan plait at a motorway services. It was only after leaving the services that we realised we were in fact heading back in the direction of Dublin. We turned around eventually, and got stuck in the same bad traffic for a second time. It's no hardship being stuck in the same traffic twice with someone as uplifting as Paul; in fact, lots of people would pay for the pleasure. Our event was called Would You Rather? only because neither of us had been able to come up with a better title before the Borris programme was printed. Making good use of the road trip, we rang one of my teenage daughters from Paul's car to find out what Would You Rather? meant exactly. 'You know,' she said. 'Like, would you rather have no fingers or no toes? Would you rather be attacked by a shark or mauled by a lion?' We decided to do a cultural version of Would You Rather? Like, would you rather be stuck in a lift with Sally Rooney or Fintan O'Toole ? Would you rather do a meditation retreat with Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame or collaborate with Dan Brown on a Da Vinci Code-style thriller set in Ikea? [ Róisín Ingle: My profound, challenging, surprisingly joyful, life-changing year Opens in new window ] The event went well. The tent was packed. We began by explaining that the Borris festival was one giant game of Would You Rather? with so many excellent events going on at the same time. For example, to be sitting in front of us the audience would previously have had to ask themselves would you rather see legendary actor Fiona Shaw do her thing or watch Paul and I 'grapple with the big questions'. (That was a programme misprint. We only had small questions.) READ MORE 'Would you rather spend a day with Paul McCartney or John Lennon ?' was one of those questions. This enabled me to tell the story of how I'd met McCartney once years ago and how, after I badgered him, he'd kindly signed a column I'd written about him. Which, to my never-ending sorrow, I subsequently lost. And it allowed me to tell them how, after I was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer 1½ years ago and was down in the dumps, a taxi had arrived outside my house with the beautifully wrapped gift of a book of photography by McCartney, with a card signed 'Love Paul'. And about how I rang my good friend Paul Howard up to tell him that, 'Oh my God, Paul McCartney must have somehow found out about my cancer and he's only gone and sent me a book of his photography.' 'It's from me,' Paul said when he had finally stopped laughing. I didn't know it then, but there was a woman in the audience at Borris called Mary who was dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. Mary had styled my hair into plaits for a photo shoot many years ago. She wanted to talk to me, about our shared experience, but worried that Borris wasn't the time or the place. When she came home from the festival, her sister asked, 'Did you talk to Róisín? 'No,' Mary replied. 'But I will find her.' Two days later I was in the Mater hospital for the scans I get every three months. My name was called along with another woman. It was Mary. The Mary who knew she would find me had accidentally found me. [ My post-cancer treatment hair reminds me of boxing promoter Don King. It makes me laugh Opens in new window ] After the first of our two scans we went for coffee, because I am a big fan of serendipity and because I remembered how good she had made me feel during that long-ago photo shoot with the plaits. 'Would you rather: a pecan plait or a plain croissant?' I asked Mary as we got coffees in the Mater cafe. She went for the plain croissant. Each to their own. It turned out Mary was now where I was 1½ years ago. Newly diagnosed with breast cancer and being scanned to see if it had spread anywhere else. I told her some things I hoped might help. She's a wise woman, Mary. A meditator. A mother. I wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know. We both had a lot to say. We talked for more than an hour. The serendipity continued. We discovered we'd be getting our scan results on the same day the following week. Whatever happens, I know she will be able to handle it. So will I. We swapped numbers. 'We can be cancer buddies,' Mary said before she went off for her second scan. 'No,' I told her before I went off for mine. 'But, if you like, we can be friends.' Because I realised that's what I'd rather. And luckily, Mary agreed.
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Has homophobia worsened in Ireland since the same-sex marriage referendum?
Ten years ago this week, on May 23rd, 2015, the people of Ireland voted to legalise same-sex marriage . Writing in The Irish Times the day after the referendum, columnist Fintan O'Toole noted the overwhelming victory for the Yes side 'looks extraordinary' but was actually 'about the ordinary'. 'Ireland has redefined what it means to be an ordinary human being,' wrote O'Toole. 'Everybody gains from equality – even those who didn't think they wanted it. Over time, those who are in a minority on this issue will come to appreciate the value of living in a pluralist democracy in which minorities are respected.' READ MORE Ten years on, is Ireland a pluralist democracy in which minorities are accepted and equal? Or has the rise of far right groups and the fear-driven, macho-infused culture of Trump and Tate , impacted how gay and lesbian people in this country are perceived and treated? Buzz O'Neill Maxwell, a nightclub promoter and freelance events manager who campaigned for a Yes vote in the 2015 referendum, is one of many LGBTQ people who feel acceptance has declined and homophobia has increased over the past five years. Today, on In The News, ten years on from Ireland's referendum to legalise same-sex marriage, have old prejudices returned? Social affairs correspondent Kitty Holland and Buzz O'Neill Maxwell reflect on whether Ireland has become a better or worse place for gay people to live their lives. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon.
Irish Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Never mind the new pope, who's going to replace Liveline's spiritual leader, Joe Duffy?
Where were you on Wednesday when you heard the announcement? Joe Duffy , the nation's father confessor, is bowing out. In another era, your granny would have bought the newspaper for the full report then put it carefully away in a drawer for future generations. Oh eight, one eight, seven one five, eight one five. READ MORE Wash yer hands. Deh Liveline is closing now. Duffy is stepping down from his phone-in show after 27 years. Now, life's only certainties are death, taxes and Pat Kenny . And then, as Joe's bombshell news was just sinking in, white smoke – like dry ice in the Top of the Popes studio – pumped from the Sistine's stovepipe, signalling the election of a new pope. Too late for Joe to apply. Who got the gig? A cardinal of the Catholic church originally from Chicago yet who, by some strange miracle, doesn't appear to have any Irish roots. Robert Prevost used to be the bishop of a place in Peru called Chiclayo, which should win him some brownie points with Donald Trump . Obviously we are devastated here in the Irish Times because we thought Fintan O'Toole was in with a good chance this time. But it wasn't to be. On the other hand, fair play to his fellow columnist, Breda O'Brien . Here's the headline from her piece two weeks ago on the significance of papal names : 'Why the next Pope should be ... Leo'. Some rugby obsessives were immediately taking it as a good omen that the British and Irish Lions were unveiled on the same day a Pope Leo was elected. Anyway, never mind whether Robert Provost (or Bob, as he is known to fellow Augustinians according to Breda, who has the inside track) comes from Chicago or Peru or anywhere else for that matter. He can still be embraced by the Soldiers of Destiny, because Fianna Fáil is a broad church. Which is why, not soon after the election of Pope Leo XIV, the party rushed out an image of what looked like Bob's election leaflet with its prominent Fianna Fáil logo at the end of it and the word 'Congratulations' now across the top. St Peter's cumann must be proud of him, even if he chose to take the name of Fine Gael's last leader. Pope Leo was elected on the fourth count, after which his surplice was distributed. Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as Pope Leo XIV — Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) Some people in Leinster House on Friday were inferring from Fianna Fáil's hearty felicitations that the new pontiff has also landed a prestigious committee chair. Dev would be proud. In Dáil Éireann on Wednesday evening, the party's TDs were too overjoyed to comment on Cardinal Prevost's elevation. First in with the congratulations was Paul Lawless of Áontu , followed rapidly by Mattie McGrath . Meanwhile, as Ireland comes to terms with this major news, we understand that Sil Fox, June Rogers, Red Hurley, Ronan Collins and Fr Brian D'Arcy will meet in conclave in the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Ballyfermot to elect a successor. The church has no chimbly so Twink will release a parrot in Le Fanu Park when Joe Duffy's replacement has been chosen. The book of evidence A big week too for senator, senior counsel and Irish Times columnist Michael McDowell , whose first book was launched on Wednesday before a big crowd in Dublin's Royal Irish Academy. A rather timely juncture for his greatest works to appear? Good for the election CV and a great opening salvo for an imminent presidential election campaign? So is he thinking of running? 'I'm not giving any answers,' Michael says coyly. He hasn't made up his mind yet. When he does 'you'll be the first to know'. He's enjoying the speculation. And the attention. The Definite Article was launched by former president Mary McAleese . The book is a collection of McDowell's articles and essays written over the last 30 years. It's hard to believe that this is his first book. The former minister for justice and one-time leader of the now-defunct Progressive Democrats is never short of a word. His son Hugh, also a barrister, was MC on the night and he brought the house down with his description of the book. He has his da well pegged. His father's opus has three broad sections. The first 'a very lengthy section, is entitled 'My Achievements''. The second is 'Things I was prevented from Achieving''. Subsections here include the person who prevented him from achieving, bureaucrats, 'my political opponents' and 'the ungrateful electorate'. And the third and greatest part is devoted to 'the impact of the metro link on Ranelagh'. Michael McDowell with Mary McAleese who launched his book, The Definite Article, at The Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, on Wednesday. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Michael's wife, Niamh Brennan, and other two sons, Ross and John, greatly enjoyed Hugh's irreverent take on Michael's musings. Guests at the launch of The Definite Article, published by Red Stripe with all proceeds going to the Alice Leahy Trust, included Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy and her daughter Robyn; Minister for Skort and Media Patrick O'Donovan , Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan and former minister for justice Charlie Flanagan . Ministers of state Marian Harkin and Noel Grealish were also among the politicians while Michael's fellow members of the Seanad Independents Group came along to show their support. Former colleagues from the upper house, Marie Louise O'Donnell and Ian Marshall, also attended. There was also a large turnout from the various organs which harvested those collected writings. Editor Ruadhán Mac Cormaic led a large Irish Times contingent. Former Sunday Independent editor Anne Harris was there as was Tom Lyons of the Currency. Former RTÉ political correspondent Seán Duignan caught up with our own former pol corr Stephen Collins . Battle for the seat of power It's all happening for Senator McDowell. He is on course to become a member of the powerful Oireachtas Commission, which oversees the running of the place. This is not going down well with the Seanad cross-party group of Labour, Social Democrats and Green Party senators who are up in arms about this surprise move. The upper house has three seats on the Oireachtas Commission. Two of these are earmarked for Robbie Gallagher of Fianna Fáil and Joe O'Reilly of Fine Gael . Now, the Civic Engagement Group of Independents has united with McDowell's Seanad Independent Group to ensure that he takes the third seat. Representatives of the smaller parties say this breaks a precedent from the last Seanad which saw the positions shared proportionally to ensure all groups get a say in the running of the Oireachtas over the next four years. They also point out that the decision by Frances Black, Lynn Ruane, Alice-Mary Higgins and Eileen Flynn to join forces with the other independent group would mean all three nominees from the Seanad are men. There will be a Seanad showdown next week with the combined parties now seeking a vote on who gets the job. They have tabled an amendment to the motion nominating McDowell, instead proposing Labour 's Nessa Cosgrove for the job. Bertie's back, telling it like it is Still on possible candidates for the presidency, we see Bertie Ahern was back in Leinster House this week. He was in august company too. Not many people know this, but globe-trotting Bertie is co-chair of the InterAction Council, which is an organisation of former global leaders. Members include Bill Clinton , John Major and a whole host of former prime ministers and presidents from across the globe. The council held its annual meeting this year in Dublin, where Bertie delivered 'a state-of-the-world address'. The former taoiseach brought more than 20 delegates, including Viktor Yushchenko, the former president of Ukraine , to Leinster House for a quick tour of the building. It was late in the evening, so they didn't see much when they visited the Dáil chamber. Afterwards they enjoyed dinner in the Ceann Comhairle's diningroom, which is off the main Oireachtas restaurant. Daly besieged by complaints That dinner took place thanks to the good auspices of Seanad Cathaoirleach Mark Daly. The Bert, as a former member of the Oireachtas, asked him to host Wednesday's dinner in Leinster House. Mark is a busy man. He recently showed members of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs around Leinster House and, as politicians tend to do, he posted some nice pictures of the occasion to his social media accounts. It happened on a quiet Friday at the end of April – a non-sitting day, but the photographs of Mark and the visiting Congressmen attracted such a deluge of negative responses he had to disable replies to them last week. The visit also prompted a major spike in the already high volume of emails received by TDs, senators and their staff from campaigners urging them to condemn Israel's military onslaught against civilians in Gaza. The deluge left them none too happy with Fianna Fáil's Senator Daly for clogging up their inboxes. The Cathaoirleach is regularly photographed with US politicians – he loves rubbing shoulders with fellow senators (and more lowly members of Congress) on Capitol Hill. As the Irish senate's Mr Speaker, he hosted committee chair Brian Mast and his colleagues Joe Wilson, Jimmy Panetta and Ami Bera during their visit to Kildare Street. It was the sight of Mast – a Florida Republican who wore an Israeli military uniform on Capitol Hill and once remarked 'there are very few innocent Palestinian citizens' when asked to comment on the killing of children and babies by the Israel Defense Forces – that prompted the outraged response. Brian Mast wears an Israeli Defense Force uniform as he arrives at a US House Republican caucus meeting in October 2023 in Washington, DC. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty The conversation between Mast (whose 'significant appointment' in December was welcomed by Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu ) and Daly must have been interesting. Fifteen years ago this month, Senator Daly hit the headlines as one of three Irish politicians refused permission to leave Cyprus to join an international aid flotilla attempting to breach Israel's blockage of Gaza . Mark, along with then party colleague and TD Chris Andrews (now a Sinn Féin senator) and Sinn Féin deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh , was among a group of international politicians prevented from joining the Gaza flotilla. Days later, Israeli naval commandos attacked the flotilla, shooting dead 10 pro-Palestinian activists and injuring many more. 'It is a huge tragedy,' he told The Kerryman newspaper upon his return, drawing parallels between the incident and Derry's Bloody Sunday .
