'He was adamant that enough was enough'... Mount Charles remembered for supporting bypass of Slane village

Lord Henry Mount Charles has left and extraordinary legacy to this country in making his family home one of the most iconic rock concert venues in the world said the Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council and Slane public representative, Cllr Wayne Harding.

"Over the last nearly 50 years, the worlds biggest headline acts have took to the stage at Slane Castle. Lord Henry's determination and perseverance was not just evidenced with the rock concerts but also with the restoration of Slane castle which was devastated by fire in 1991. This same determination was displayed in his long battle with his illness.

"The fire at the castle in 1981 hit him hard. The fact that it has been restored to what it is today is testament to his endurance and determination.

"He really put Slane on the map. I've very rarely met an Irish person that wasn't at a Slane concert. If somebody asks me where I'm from and I say Slane, they immediately start to tell me what concert they were at."

Cllr Harding paid tribute to the late Lord Mount Charles as a man of the people. He recalled that back in 2009 they both took part in a Bypass Slane protest on the Main Street of Slane following yet another horrific accident in the village.

"He was adamant that enough was enough. He cared about Slane and took part in the protest, where we were blocking the traffic."

"There was real mischief in him too. At that protest he told me 'if you are serious about getting elected, you need to get arrested here today."

Cllr Harding remembered Lord Mount Charles' efforts to promote tourism in Slane and his campaign to locate the Bru na Boinne Visitors Centre in the village.

"He was convinced that building the centre in its current location would have a devastating impact on Slane and he was extremely vocal on that. At that time, most visitors to Newgrqange went through Slane."

The Lady Well, an ancient Holy Well and a site of pilgrimage for the people of Slane every 15th August for hundreds of years was located on the Conyngham lands.

"He was proud of the history of the well and opened it to the public. He always said that all the family were christened with water from the well.

"Henry grew up looking at the field in front of the house which was natural amphitheatre and he had the vision to bring the concerts to Slane.

"From relatively small beginnings it grew into a world famous venue with some of the most famous acts in the world performing.

"I remember being in the field before the Harry Styles concert and it was like a piece of Las Vegas.

"The people of Slane embraced the concerts and loved to go out and enjoy themselves. The concerts also provided a huge economic boost, not just to Slane but the entire north east."

Cllr Harding said Lord Mount Charles was politically astute. "He met Brian Cowen at the opening of Thomas Byrne's constituency office when Mr Cowen was just a minister. He told him it was great to shake the hand of a future Taoiseach."

"Henry was very much part of the community of Slane and he loved the concerts. On the night before he would often come into the pubs in the village and meet the crowds. He loved what he was doing and had left remarkable legacy."

"May I express my condolences to his wife, Lady Iona, to his children, Alenander, Henrietta, Wolfe and Tamara and all his family and friends."