Latest news with #Henry
Dublin Live
15 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Slane Castle owner Lord Henry Mount Charles brought rock & roll to Ireland
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Slane Castle owner Lord Henry Mount Charles was hailed as the man who brought rock and roll to Ireland who we 'owe a great debt to' as his family announce he has lost his brave battle to cancer. The owner of Slane Castle, where he has hosted some of Ireland's most memorable concerts since the 1980s, passed away peacefully in the late hours of June 18 following a long battle with cancer. He was 74 years old. In a statement, his family said: 'Lord Henry 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. They added: 'Lord Henry's light will continue to shine through the lives he enriched and the enduring contributions he made to Ireland's cultural landscape. He will be profoundly missed, but never forgotten.' In a statement, the President said he was 'saddened' to learn of Lord Henry's passing, and praised his vision in transforming Slane Castle into one of the country's most iconic music venues. 'Lord Henry's contribution was quite 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,' President Higgins said. 'I have been saddened over recent years to hear of his struggles with cancer, about which he spoke personally and helpfully of his experiences.' The President also extended his condolences to Lord Henry's wife, Iona, their children Alexander, Henrietta, Wolfe and Tamara, and to 'all his family and friends'. Taoiseach Micheal Martin told RTE 's News At One that Lord Henry was 'iconic' and his death marked an 'end of an era'. He said: "In terms of music and culture he left an incredible impact and in terms of Slane. 'I mean he came back as a 25-year-old to run Slane. Thin Lizzy was their first band with U2 supporting. 'He was iconic. Slane is iconic. It is the end of an era in many respects in terms of architecturally, in terms of preserving Slane and making it economically viable but above all in terms of his impact on music and culture. 'We owe him a great debt, and he was a wonderfully charismatic person.' Tanaiste Simon Harris has also paid tribute to Lord Henry, the man 'who brought rock-and-roll to the iconic music venue that is Slane Castle'. 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 .
USA Today
19 minutes ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where did the Ravens land in a PFF ranking of all 32 running back groups?
Pro Football Focus says the Ravens have the NFL's best collection of RBs Canton, Ohio is calling. Typically, we all try to avoid the temptation of 'leaping without looking' or 'counting chickens before they hatch', but this is something different entirely. Long before Derrick Henry landed with the Baltimore Ravens, he looked like someone with a Pro Football Hall of Fame pedigree. You knew it. So did the rest of us. Fast forward to the present, and now, he has the resume to back the claim. He turned 31 years old in January, and instead of regressing, he has seemingly found his legs again. His most recent season, his first in a new city, was the second-best of his career. He almost cracked 2,000 yards rushing for the second time. It's nearly as if he's aging in reverse, but here's the best part. Baltimore's rushing attack can be even better than it was when we last saw them. Pro Football Focus says the Ravens have the NFL's best collection of RBs No team in the NFL posted more rushing yards than the 2024-25 Baltimore Ravens. They made it look easy, but it wasn't. This is, after all, professional football. Henry's 1,921 rushing yards finished second only to Saquon Barkley. His 16 rushing touchdowns led everyone, but as good as that news was for a Ravens team that invested in him, they may not hear anything all summer that tops this next theory. Pro Football Focus recently ranked every NFL team's collection of running backs. Baltimore claimed the top spot. In other words, Henry doesn't have to rely on Henry alone. There's a committee in the making here if Baltimore wants to explore the idea. Here's what PFF's Dalton Wasserman had to say about placing them atop his ranking while everyone is mulling that one over. "The Ravens reign supreme with the NFL's highest-graded running back from last season, Derrick Henry, and a talented unit behind him. Henry led the position with a 93.5 PFF rushing grade as well as 89 missed tackles forced and 6.0 yards per carry. At this point, his eventual decline isn't believable until we see it. Alongside Henry is one of the NFL's best third-down backs, Justice Hill. Hill's 89.0 PFF receiving grade in 2024 ranked fourth among running backs last season. He did not drop any of his 52 targets. Baltimore also has Keaton Mitchell, who earned an elite 92.5 PFF rushing grade in limited work in 2023, and Rasheen Ali, who added special-teams value late last season." Mitchell was recently mentioned as one of CBS Sports' breakout candidates for the coming season. Hill allows Baltimore's offense an opportunity for a 'thunder and lightning' pairing alongside Henry. The Ravens have a goldmine in Derrick, but that doesn't mean that they have to beat him up in the process. He has given the game nine NFL seasons. Yes, time has flown, but if the Baltimore Ravens want to maximize the return on the two-year, $16 million deal worth up to $20 million that they gave him on March 12, 2024 (and the two-year extension they handed him this past May), they may want to invest in ideas that end with keeping him fresh and healthy. Perhaps theories like PFFs serve as catalysts for convincing them to do so. The Ravens have the league's best committee sitting right under their noses. All they have to do is take a whiff.
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Slane Castle open for public tributes to Lord Henry Mount Charles
The family of Lord Henry Mount Charles will open the gates of Slane Castle this weekend, inviting members of the public to pay their respects and sign a Book of Condolence in honour of the late music promoter and custodian of one of Ireland's most iconic venues. Lord Henry, who died on Tuesday aged 74 after a long illness, was widely credited with transforming Slane Castle into a globally recognised live music destination. His son, Alex, the Marquess Conyngham, said in a statement that the family had been "profoundly moved" by the public response to his passing. "We have been truly touched by the strength of public sentiment and are deeply grateful for the countless expressions of sympathy and shared memories," he said. "Dad's warmth, spirit and dedication to Slane, its people and its legacy forged friendships that extended incredibly far and wide." The Book of Condolence will be available to sign on the grounds of Slane Castle this Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 June, between 10am and 6pm. "This will be an opportunity for all those who knew Henry, enjoyed the magic of Slane, or simply wish to express their sympathies to come together in his memory at the place he loved so deeply," the family said in a statement. They also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and requested privacy as they grieve. Tributes have continued to pour in for Lord Henry, who was instrumental in bringing some of the world's biggest acts to Ireland over the past four decades. Artists including U2, Queen, Madonna and The Rolling Stones have all played Slane Castle under his stewardship. Concert promoter Denis Desmond of MCD described him as a true "rock 'n' roll icon" and a "visionary with an enormous sense of fun and a tremendous work ethic". "Henry had an enormous impact on the acts who played at Slane," Desmond said. "World-class performers would talk about him long after the final note sounded. He wanted everyone to have a great time, stay safe, and come again." Desmond recalled Lord Henry's hands-on approach, often working through the night and staying closely connected to the live music industry even during his later years in hospital. "His laugh was infectious," he added. "He had a sense of humour that often shone brightest in darker moments. Truly, we will not see his likes again."
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Young, ambitious, earn a high-income? Starmer's Britain is out to crush you
Today's borrowing figures, with the deficit rising even though tax levels are at a record high, makes it seem ever-more inevitable that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will seek to raise taxes further this autumn. High taxes have already driven away many non-doms and many millionaires – contributing to Reeves' previous tax rises raising less than was hoped. But could high taxes and a declining lifestyle in the UK drive away people further down the income scale? Could a 'wealth drain' become more widespread? One emerging candidate is the so-called 'Henry' – someone who is a High Earner but Not Rich Yet. Political analysis suggests that this group is starting to feel let down by Starmer's Government, despite many of them having voted Labour in 2024. Could this discontent lead to many of them leaving the country? There may be some scope. Some of the trade agreements the UK has signed in recent years include provision for fairly easy migration for work for young professionals. The American H-1B visa scheme for high-skill professionals has been streamlined recently and there has been speculation that it could be eased for British applicants – perhaps as part of a wider UK-US trade deal. High earning young British professionals would be welcomed in many countries. On the other hand, some of the same factors that mean these people are not rich yet may tend to make a move out of the UK an upheaval. Often they are not rich yet because they have children, for whom moving abroad may be a wrench. Also, since by definition they are not rich yet, they may lack resources to make a move and provide a buffer in the early months and years. Maybe it wouldn't be the Henrys themselves who would move? Perhaps by the time one is a Henry it's already too late? Maybe the time to move is a little earlier, when a Henry future can be seen awaiting – decades of financial struggle despite high income; what a friend of mine once referred to as 'being broke at a higher level'. Young professionals on the way up may be able to move abroad when Henrys could not. Either way, it's a grim time to be in the earnings brackets that the Government is targeting to raise taxes. And with unsustainable finances, no political appetite to cut spending, and persisting threats of an economic downturn – whether from Trump's tariffs, the Iran situation or the broader economic backdrop – things seem likely to get worse for high tax payers before they get better.
Extra.ie
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Lord Henry Mount Charles: The reluctant earl who made ancestral home a rock 'n' roll touchstone
He might have been known as the rock 'n' roll aristocrat, but Lord Henry Mount Charles never held any airs or graces. Despite being a marquess and the owner of Slane Castle, Henry was a familiar face around the village and well-loved by those who attended his many concerts. At gig time, as 80,000 people flocked to the stately home, it was not unusual to see Henry in his panama hat and trademark single red sock mingling with the crowds. Lord Henry Mount Charles. Pic: As his family announced his death on Wednesday night after a 'long and valiant battle' with lung cancer, tributes from huge names in rock 'n' roll who had graced the stage of Slane Castle came pouring in. And it is no wonder, as Henry Vivien Pierpont Conyngham changed the face of music in Ireland and made us a country who could compete on the world stage, bringing some of the biggest names in music to Ireland, a place that many outside it had previously associated with bombings and religion. Born on May 23, 1951, in Dublin's Rotunda Hospital, Henry was the oldest son of Fredrick Coyningham, the 7th Marquess Coyningham and Eileen Wren Newsam. Lord Henry Mount Charles. Pic: RTÉ The Coyninghams were Anglo-Irish aristocrats descended from Ulster Scots heritage and Frederick was a peer. As such, Henry and his two younger brothers Patrick and Simon lived what he described as an 'upstairs, downstairs' existence, similar to many aristocratic families – the first time he dined with his parents was at the age of 12. He was then sent to Harrow public school in London before heading to university in Harvard. But the breakup of his parents' marriage had a big impact on Henry and his younger brothers, and Henry had to step up to be the lord of the manor. 'As far as I was concerned, my father was deserting his responsibilities,' he said in an RTÉ documentary. 'My mother continued to live at the castle and things sort of went on like it was before, although everything was different. I was expected at a very early age to replace my father and it felt bizarre.' Lord Henry Mountcharles with his wife Iona and daughter Tamara at Oxegen music festival in punchestown, Kildare. Pic: Arthur Carron/Collins Harvard gave Henry a huge amount of freedom. He was a child of the Sixties, he loved music and the wilder side of life. 'I will put my hand up and say I misbehaved in my first year at Harvard,' he said. 'I smoked a lot of dope and did what liberated students did in those days and I enjoyed myself.' He met his first wife, American Juliet Ann Kitson, and the pair moved to London where they had their first child Alex. Henry was working in publishing for Faber and Faber when, at the age of just 25, his father forced him to make a tough decision. Lord Henry Mount Charles. Pic: Courtesy of Slane Castle A new wealth tax being brought in by the Irish State meant Frederick was being faced with a huge bill and though rich in assets, he didn't have a huge income. The castle could either be taken over by Henry or sold. 'I really felt I had no choice,' Henry said recently. 'Even though it was, as it were, my heritage what I was born to deal with it was quite daunting.' The farm that was on the castle site was no longer viable as the family couldn't pay the wages to sustain it. Lord Henry Mount Charles. Pic: Arthur Carron/Collins Photos But Henry had a few other ideas. His parents had previously leased the castle to Hollywood to film the Rock Hudson classic Captain Lightfoot, even making a cameo appearance themselves, and this was something Henry decided to reinvigorate to gain some cash for the castle coffers. He also opened the castle up to visitors, entertaining film stars who needed privacy behind the castle walls whilst filming for movies and the occasional TV series took place in the grounds. But it was Henry's love of music that created the castle's biggest earner. First of all he opened a nightclub but then had the idea to stage a concert at Slane, something that changed everything for the castle's fortunes and for the Irish music scene. 'I decided Slane was a natural for open air rock 'n' roll the key to it was finding someone I could work with,' he said of the castle's now-famed natural amphitheatre. That 'someone' came in the form of Belfast promoter Eamonn McCann and Dublin's Denis Desmond of MCD. Thin Lizzy became the first act to play Slane in 1981, supported by a lesser-known band called U2, but though 18,000 people turned up, the show was not without its risks. Across the border in the North, the Troubles were raging and tensions were high in Meath. Lord Henry, due to his title, became a focus for the ire of some sections of republicanism. 'It was very dark,' Henry said of the time. 'There were riots in Dublin, there was a situation in front of the British Embassy.' 'I come from a complex background – I got some very unpleasant mail and I got threatening phone calls in the middle of the night. 'But I'm a child of the Sixties, I grew up on The Kinks, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and my anthem was things like We Gotta Get Out of This Place.' Former Spice Girls singer Mel C with Lord Henry Mount Charles at Slane Castle. Pic: EamonnFarrell/ It made Henry more determined to go ahead with his plan and by the time Thin Lizzy struck their first chord, 18,000 people witnessed Slane becoming Ireland's premier rock 'n' roll venue. This cemented Henry's friendship with U2 who also recorded their hit album The Unforgettable Fire at the castle. It was a terrible irony, then, that Slane would later fall victim to a terrible fire that gutted parts of the castle. It took ten years to restore the seat to its former glory and the concerts organised by Mountcharles and various promoters paid for the refurbishment. There were turbulent concerts too – after Bob Dylan's show in the 1980s, thugs vandalised the village, causing havoc. In 1995 two concert goers died trying to swim across the River Boyne to sneak into the gig by REM and Oasis. But for the most part, the concerts put Slane – and Henry – on the map, including the Bruce Springsteen gig in 1985 – the first date on his Born in the USA tour. While his first marriage to Juliet ended in divorce in 1982, the couple had three children Alex, Henrietta and Gerald. Lord Henry Mount Charles. Pic: RTÉ He met his second wife, Iona, daughter of the 6th Earl of Verluam, on a champagne-tasting trip and they were married in 1986 and their child Tamara was born in 1991. In person, Henry was erudite and entertaining, intelligent and fun with an unassuming air about him. As an Anglo-Irish peer he was styled Viscount Slane until 1974 and then Earl of Mountcharles 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. He was never really a 'lord' but didn't like being called an earl, so the rock 'n' roll Lord would do. But politics and justice were also very important to him throughout his life, particularly the politics of Ireland. 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. But his interest in the subjects never waned and for many years he wrote a popular column on the subject for the Irish Daily Mirror. Lord Henry Mountcharles with Oasis band members Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer at Slane Castle. Pic: Arthur Carron/Collins Photos After a diagnosis of lung cancer in 2014, his health suffered, but Henry's entrepreneurial spirit didn't wane. He decided to open a distillery at Slane Castle with his eldest son Alex. The Slane Irish whiskey brand was sold to Brown-Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel's, which invested €50million and established a new distillery and visitor centre at the seat. He handed over the running of the castle to his eldest son Alex while he and Iona spent most of their time in Beauparc House, a smaller stately home in Navan which had been left to him by a relative. Though dogged by health problems due to his cancer in his later years, Henry very much approved of the decision to host the first series of The Traitors Ireland in Slane. It was something his son Alex said he was very pleased about as it was a return to the castle's previous life as a TV set. But sadly, one of Ireland's last aristocrats won't be around to see it screened when it airs this summer. And the country has lost a colourful character who changed the face of the entertainment business and brought some of the biggest names in the world to a tiny village in Co. Meath. 'My life has been a mixture of great good fortune and adversity,' he once said. 'I just try to see my life as a journey.'
