"Harry Styles is going to bring a new generation of fans to Slane"

Harry Styles is going to "bring a new generation of fans to Slane" that's according to Alex Mountcharles who was speaking ahead of next week's sell out show at the iconic music venue.

Thousands of music fans are expected to converge on the castle site on Saturday June 10th when the singer takes the stage to bring his Love on Tour set to Ireland.

"I think he's going to bring a new generation of fans to Slane with the demographic he attracts," predicts Alex.

"Slane certainly for my generation, was always seen as a rite of passage and I'm looking forward to seeing a new set of fans enjoying the pilgrimage and magic that goes with a show at Slane."

Alex says his father Lord Henry Mountcharles who first brought music to the famous amphitheatre on the banks of the Boyne over 40 years ago is looking forward to seeing the controversial act he championed to headline this year's show.

"The buck stops with dad on who plays Slane and I think he has picked one of the most exciting artists of our era," said Alex. "He called it right because it was the fastest sell out we ever had. We haven't had a gig since before covid so we are all really looking forward to the day.

"And it is not just about Harry Styles there is a full day of music, there's plenty of Irish acts on the bill, it's important to support our own."

With building preparations under way, good weather is allowing plans to run smoothly according to the whiskey entrepreneur who said:

"We are obviously blessed with great weather going into the build which makes life easier for everyone on site. We are on schedule; stage building will start at the beginning of next week and the crew are all in good form. They love coming to Slane and there are people working on site that have been working on the Slane shows for decades. They always love coming back to Slane and it's nice to see them."

Lord Henry Mountcharle's son has praised the community of Slane for their support, adding:

"The gigs just wouldn't happen without the support of the people of Slane, they have always been supportive of our endeavours and of course the whiskey project where they supported the planning application for that. Slane Castle and Slane Village and very much intertwined always have been and hopefully always will be."

With Alex and his family now living in the castle, the younger generation of Conynghams are getting to experience the magic that Alex fondly remembers.

"With us now living in the castle, my own kids are getting to experience the excitement. Although we were at the Metallica show, we weren't living in the building- at that stage, so it's another layer of excitement hearing the forklifts beeping and the stage crew outside and they get to see it happen from an empty field into a fully fledged stage where 80,000 people will be coming to next Saturday."

Alex says living in the castle "brings back lots of childhood memories" of concerts past," he added:

"Well I can't describe it as normal but it was normal to me!

"I can remember the early shows and the excitement I would feel and now I can see my own children doing the same and it's lovely to see that."

Alex describes the first time he realised the magic music can bring to the masses:

"I think the first time I really realised the power of live music was when I watched Freddie Mercury burst on to the stage just as the crowd were about to applaud Brian May as he finished his solo, at that that precise moment he broke out with the most amazing note and the whole crowd went wild. I was sitting on the grass in front of the castle and I realised that's the power of live music!"

Slane concert veterans and newbies alike are in for an exciting day of music promises the Slane Whiskey tycoon.

"There are always surprises at Slane! We are just looking forward to a magical day of music with a wide range of artists and Harry Styles is certainly the star, he is one of the hottest artists in the world at the moment and then you have an amazing array of talent supporting him. People who are having their first Slane experience are in for a real treat!"