Could a Slane Castle gig be on the cards for Oasis?

Definitely Maybe!

‘Britpop' legends Oasis sent fans into a frenzy this morning as they announced their 2025 come back tour with two dates lined up for Croke Park but could a return to Slane Castle be on the cards for the Manchester born brothers? - if it was up to Lord Henry Mountcharles - absolutely!

After teasing a reunion over the weekend, it was confirmed today that the tempestuous Gallagher brothers, whose father's side of the family hail from Duleek, are to embark on a tour of the UK and Ireland with the band lined up to play Croke Park on 16th and 17th August next year. However, speculation is rife that more Irish dates will be added to the highly anticipated tour including a possible return to Slane Castle.

Speaking to the Meath Chronicle in 2021 when marking 40 years of concerts on the grounds of Slane Castle, Henry spoke of how home grown acts always go down a storm with crowds at the iconic music venue and the buzz Oasis created when they headlined in 2009.

“There was great craic with the Gallaghers because of their Duleek connections, and lots of carry-on over the show,” said Lord Mountcharles.

“Liam wasn’t talking to Noel, and one came by helicopter, and one by limousine. We were very lucky – they had a big bust-up afterwards in Paris, thank God it didn’t happen in Slane! he added.

“But if a call came in the morning saying the guys were back together and would I be up for it – I’d say yes straight away!”

He also spoke very highly of Mullingar's Niall Horan, and thought a gig combining both acts would be a great story.

The Manchester born band’s headline stint in 2009 marked 14 years since they first played Slane as support to REM in 1995.

For the Gallaghers, the trip to the banks of the Boyne was a sort of homecoming – their father, Thomas had emigrated from the Meath village of Duleek to the UK in his early 20s.

They had visited Duleek as younger children over a decade before, as well as their mother’s native Mayo. Their father often travelled over to see Meath playing football in those heady days, and another brother, Paul, was a regular visitor.

Their cousin, Duleek man Willie Gallagher, visited the pop stars frequently at their English home, and kept in constant contact with them.

He told local media at the time: “I went over two weeks ago to watch them play in front of 22,000 people at Sheffield. They’re getting bigger and better, but aren’t letting any of the fame go to their heads.

“Noel is living in London, while Liam still lives with his mother in a Manchester council house, and can often be seen running down to the shop for a loaf of bread,” he added.

The band had only played one previous gig in Ireland, in the National Stadium in 1994, but Willie said they were looking forward to their Meath concert.

“The lads are very excited about playing Slane this summer as support to REM,” he said at the time.

Their aunt-in-law, Joan Gallagher of Rathfeigh, who was married to the late George Gallagher, and was a key figure in the local historical society, said in her memoir 'Milestones and Memories' that the musical talent in the family came from George and Tommy's mother's family, the Lees.