Slane Castle has long been renowned as a concert venue that has drawn some of the biggest global names in music to this tiny County Meath village – think U2, Madonna and the Rolling Stones, to name just a few. But its new state-of-the-art whiskey distillery and two new food offerings, Browne’s Bar and the Gandon Room, are putting Slane on the map for different reasons now.
The castle has been the home of the Conyngham family since the 1700s, but the current occupant, Henry Mount Charles (now the 8th Marquess Conyngham), has done a wonderful job of opening up the castle to the public with the new distillery and food offerings.
There are two food options for visitors and locals alike: Browne’s Bar for a casual bite or the Gandon Room Restaurant for something more special.
Browne’s Bar is full of fun memorabilia from the concerts held over the years. It’s named after the castle housekeeper, Mary Browne, who for many years ran the household for the Conyngham family. Or, when the weather is good, you can sit at the picnic tables set up outside in the castle courtyard. Don’t miss the chance to try their signature cocktail, an orchard spritz, made with their own whiskey, apple juice and a squeeze of lemon and topped up with soda water.
The Gandon Room Restaurant is named after the famous Irish architect James Gandon, who in addition to designing the Four Courts and King’s Inns in Dublin was also one of the principal architects of the castle. The Gandon Room is more formal than the bar and focuses on modern Irish cuisine.
The whiskey distillery opened to much fanfare in August 2017 after a €47 million development that took two years to complete. They are now producing Slane Irish Whiskey, which is currently available in Ireland, the UK and Australia. The distillery welcomes visitors for a fascinating hour-long tour and tasting.
Tours of the castle are available and also last one hour. The castle is also a wedding venue and hosts an excellent Santa experience for children every year. All in all, it’s great to see this special estate playing an even bigger part in this small community, especially as there is a very strong emphasis on sustainability around all developments.
Additionally, Slane Food Circle members Carina and Alex Conyngham offer glamping and eco-tourism activities at the organic Rock Farm Slane (www.rockfarmslane.ie).
