THE OWNER of Slane Castle has said a concert has been provisionally scheduled for Saturday, August 28th.
Lord Henry Mountcharles said it was the only date available for a concert this summer.
He dismissed as “rubbish” suggestions that there is no act touring this summer big enough to fill the venue, which has a capacity of 80,000.
Lord Henry will receive the industry award at the 2010 Meteor Ireland Music Awards tonight for his contribution to the Irish music industry over nearly 30 years since the first Slane concert in 1981.
He said he was “hopeful” of attracting a major “international artist” to Slane, but refused to be drawn on who.
Speculation has centred on the Kings of Leon, AC/DC, Stevie Wonder, Muse and Robbie Williams (a previous headliner), all of whom are likely to tour this summer.
However, Lord Henry said a concert, if it takes place, will have strong support acts. “I always look at the whole scenario. Artists do play with support. The only exception to that was Bruce Springsteen,” he said.
Lord Henry explained that he had chosen the date because of all the other activity going on at the castle during the summer and to concentrate minds.
He admitted he was “pissed off” at the problems which occurred during the Oasis concert last year, where severe overcrowding saw thousands of fans getting in free at the Dublin gate end. There were also problems with public transport.
He said changes to how people access the site from the Dublin end will be made and there will be extra security.
“Slane is a unique and very special venue with an international reputation. I don’t like to see that kind of thing happen. Everyone involved from myself to Denis Desmond and Dublin Bus among others are conscious of the problems,” he said.
Brit Award winners Florence and the Machine and Dizzie Rascal are among the acts which will play at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards ceremony this evening at the RDS.
U2, who have been nominated in three categories, are expected to dominate the domestic awards.
Meanwhile, another awards ceremony, the Irish Film and Television Awards (Ifta) take place at the Burlington Hotel tomorrow night. It will be televised live on RTÉ One.
