Plug pulled on Slane concert
Music fans were left disappointed today after one of Ireland’s top summer concerts was cancelled today.
The owner of Slane Castle in Co Meath said it was not easy to axe the renowned gig, which has been running most years since 1981.
Lord Henry Mount Charles had set aside August 28 as a date, with speculation centring on top international acts Kings of Leon and AC/DC making an appearance.
But the aristocrat behind some of Ireland’s greatest outdoor gigs said he didn’t want to put a “half-baked scenario together”.
“No-one is coming this year,” he said. “I’m saying publicly that there will not be a Slane in 2010.
“This is not easy. and I’m sorry that people are disappointed. But it would be much, much worse to put a half-baked scenario together. I just won’t do it. I’ve been too long in the game. I’m very proud of Slane as a venue. It has an international reputation.”
That reputation suffered a knock at last year’s gig when disgruntled fans flooded internet message boards and radio phone-ins complaining about massive transport delays, hour-long queues and alleged overcrowding and crowd trouble as Oasis headlined concert.
Concert promoters MCD insisted the 80,000 capacity had not been breached.
Lord Mount Charles did not specifically say why he cancelled the concert this year but stated it didn’t feel right.
“It’s been hugely beneficial to Co Meath. It’s great for the tourism industry. If everything had fallen into place, of course I would have gone this year,” he told RTÉ Radio.
“You can’t do things if it doesn’t feel right. In my skin it didn’t feel right, so I’m very sorry but that’s the decision that’s been made.”
He said he was aware of the campaigns by fans to have Kings of Leon and AC/DC play at the venue.
“I can assure people that both those bands are very much up there to play Slane at some date in the future and possibly even in the quite near future, but not in 2010,” he said.
The concert was cancelled in 2005 after US rapper Eminem pulled out.
There were also no gigs in 2006 and 2008.
Asked if there would be a concert next year Lord Mount Charles said nothing was certain.
But he added: “30th anniversary is a big, big deal.”
