By John Fout | Irish Tourist Radio
There are few places in Ireland that know how to host a concert quite like Slane. For more than four decades, the small County Meath village has welcomed some of the biggest names in music, transforming from a peaceful rural community into the center of the Irish music world.
When Luke Combs arrived for his first concerts at Slane Castle, I decided not to focus on the stage. Instead, I spent three days walking the streets of the village, microphone, camera, and GoPro in hand, meeting the people who make weekends like this so memorable. From lifelong residents and local business owners to visitors making the journey from across Ireland and beyond, every conversation revealed another side of the Slane story.
This is their story.
Friday: The Village Gets Ready
By Friday morning, the transformation of Slane was already well underway. Security barriers lined parts of the village, cafés were preparing for a busy weekend, and there was a quiet sense of anticipation in the air. The crowds had not yet arrived in full, but everyone knew they were on their way.
The first people I met were Niall and Sylvia, brother and sister and lifelong residents of Slane. Having lived in the village for many years, they’ve watched generations of music fans descend on Slane Castle and have seen some of the biggest names in music perform over the decades.
When I asked Niall what he thought about another major concert weekend arriving in the village, his answer was simple and welcoming.
“The more, the merrier.”
With a smile, he added that the good weather seemed to have arrived with the concert too.
Sylvia was equally enthusiastic. While she looked forward to the excitement the weekend would bring, she also hoped that everyone attending would enjoy themselves and make it home safely once the concerts were over. Over the years she’s attended performances by The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Robbie Williams and Harry Styles, each one adding another chapter to Slane’s remarkable musical history.
Asked about the temporary security fencing around the village, both agreed it was a sensible addition, helping keep residents and visitors safe throughout the weekend.
A Local’s Honest View
Not everyone experiences a concert weekend in quite the same way. A little further along the street, I met Myra, another lifelong Slane resident who has watched the village transform time and time again for some of the world’s biggest concerts.
Although she’s lived in Slane for what she laughingly described as “yonks” a very long time, Myra admitted she’s never actually attended one of the concerts herself. Instead, she’s experienced them from the perspective of someone who calls the village home. When I asked what she thought about Slane hosting two Luke Combs concerts over the weekend, she didn’t hesitate.
“I would prefer if there were no concerts and I could just live in peace in my nice little village.”
Myra explained that once the road closures come into effect, everyday life changes dramatically for local residents.
“When we’re out, we can’t get in, and when we’re in, we can’t get out. That’s just the way it is. We have to grin and bear it and make the best of it.”
Her comments were a useful reminder that while thousands of fans see a concert weekend as an unforgettable experience, for those who live in Slane it also brings disruption, patience and a willingness to adapt simply part of living in one of Ireland’s most famous concert villages.
A Tradition That Feels Like Home
Further along, I met Jim, another lifelong Slane resident who has witnessed the concert tradition from the very beginning. Living on the Navan Road, he’s experienced every major event at Slane Castle, watching the village welcome hundreds of thousands of music fans over the years.
Unlike some residents who find concert weekends disruptive, Jim takes it all in his stride. When I asked what he thought about Luke Combs bringing two nights of music to the village, his answer was straightforward.
“I don’t mind it one bit. We’re here since the first concert started… and we’ve never had a bit of trouble.”
His only addition came with a smile.
“…yet.”
That single word brought a laugh and captured the easy-going humor that seems to come naturally to so many people in Slane. Between Niall and Sylvia’s welcome, Myra’s honesty about the inconvenience, and Jim’s easy acceptance after decades of concerts, it was clear there isn’t one single “local opinion” on a Slane weekend; there are dozens, and that’s exactly what makes the village interesting.
Coffee, Conversation and Concert Weekend
One place that never seems to stay quiet for long in Slane is Little Red Truck Coffee, a favorite stop for locals, visitors and passing cyclists, and it was already busy as the village prepared for the arrival of thousands of Luke Combs fans.
Behind the counter, I caught up with Finuola, who was helping keep everyone fuelled with fresh coffee ahead of the biggest weekend of the summer. She’d only attended two concerts at Slane Castle, but this weekend was one she’d been looking forward to for months a family affair.
“My dad’s a big fan of Luke Combs, so me and my sisters always go to the concert with him.”
Would she be going this weekend?
“Yeah, 100%. I’m looking forward to it.”
It’s become one of my regular stops whenever I’m in the village, so it seemed only fitting to call in before one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Weddings, Weekends and a Concert in the Air
By Friday afternoon, Slane was welcoming more than just concertgoers. Weddings, family gatherings and weekend visitors all blended into the growing excitement, giving the village a lively atmosphere before the first note had even been played.
Outside one of the village businesses, I met Sarah and Colm, who’d traveled to Slane for a wedding. The wedding had brought them to County Meath, but Luke Combs had become part of the conversation too; Sarah was looking forward to heading to Slane Castle the following day.
“Yeah, I’m going tomorrow.”
Our chat soon drifted beyond Slane, as travel chats tend to. Sarah recommended Strandhill as a must-visit in County Sligo, while Colm, from neighboring County Leitrim, pointed to Leitrim Village for a good pint, naming Vera Donlon’s, The Drumhierny Lodge, and M.J. O’Connor’s. Colm wasn’t going to the concert himself, another wedding to attend, which only added to the humor of the conversation. Between weddings and concerts, it was going to be a busy weekend all round.
“What’s your favorite radio station?” I asked, as our chat wound down.
Colm smiled. “Irish Tourist Radio, naturally!”
Sunshine, Smiles and Looking Forward
As the afternoon wore on, the streets became noticeably busier, the sunshine bringing people outdoors and cafés filling up. In the center of the village, I met Rhonda and Joyce, enjoying the atmosphere as preparations continued.
Rhonda, a Slane resident who’s attended several concerts at the castle over the years, summed up the mood:
“The sun is shining, I think most people in the village are quite excited. We’re all ready to party and enjoy ourselves. It’s going to be fab!”
Asked what she’d recommend to visitors, her answer captured why so many people fall in love with the area: the ancient passage tomb at Newgrange, the view from the Hill of Slane, Slane Castle itself when open to visitors, and the traditional Wednesday night sessions at Boyles Pub. For concertgoers staying over, she also recommended the camping facilities at Slane Farm Hostel, especially given the forecast.
Beside her, Joyce, originally from Glasgow, and in Slane for more than two decades, laughed about still returning to Scotland for “elocution lessons,” so she wouldn’t lose her accent. A reminder that Slane has welcomed not only famous musicians over the years, but people from many places who now proudly call the village home.
Both answered together when I asked the question. “Irish Tourist Radio!”
Behind the Bar at Boyles Pub
No walk through Slane on concert weekend would be complete without calling into Boyles Pub. For me, it’s more than one of the village’s best-known pubs; years ago I worked behind this very bar and even lived upstairs for a time. This time, though, I was standing on the other side of it with owner John Archbold, who was calmly overseeing what he described as controlled chaos.
“A lot of madness… controlled chaos.”
With around 80,000 people expected over the weekend, months of planning had come down to one final day of preparation.
“It’s like a well-oiled bicycle chain now — everything’s ready to go, the music’s on, the drinks are in. It’s time to have fun.”
Naturally, rumors were circulating about a possible surprise appearance by Luke Combs or his band. John laughed off the speculation with the good humor that’s become part of Slane concert folklore.
“The lads are very welcome if they want to pop in unannounced. We’ll keep it a secret until the day after!”
Forty Years of Concert Memories
A few doors along, I caught up with Wayne Harding, owner of the Village Inn and a lifelong Slane resident whose family has been at the heart of concert weekends for decades. This wasn’t just another concert; it was the first time Slane Castle had hosted two consecutive nights for the same artist, with around 160,000 fans expected to pass through the village over the weekend.
“Over the next two days… it’ll be back-to-back concerts in Slane. One hundred and sixty thousand over two days. It’s huge.”
His memories stretch back almost to the beginning of the Slane concerts. His father bought the Village Inn in 1987, the year David Bowie played the castle when Wayne was sixteen. He also remembers being on the castle lawn for Springsteen in ’85, and has been a lifelong fan ever since.
Back then, he told me, many people in Ireland had barely heard of Bruce Springsteen before he played Slane. Today, Springsteen is a legend, and Wayne wonders if history could repeat itself with Combs.
“A lot of people didn’t know Bruce Springsteen before he came to Slane… I think it’s a bit similar. A lot of people don’t know Luke Combs.”
Looking Back Before the Music Begins
As Friday afternoon drew to a close, I met up with an old friend, Andrew Cassidy, outside Boyles Pub, the perfect place to finish the first day. Andrew owned Boyles for many years, and I was lucky enough to work there alongside him during several Slane concert weekends. Some of my favorite memories of those weekends weren’t made on the castle lawn; they were made behind the bar.
“A lot of fond memories of all them concerts that we used to work in… you did a few with me, John. It was brilliant.”
These days Andrew’s happy to leave the crowds to a younger generation.
“I’ll take it easy. I think my concert days are over.”
Music remains a huge part of his life; he still performs regularly, and local audiences can catch him playing with the Wednesday Gang.
Saturday: The Road to Slane
Saturday morning had a different energy. The quiet anticipation of Friday gave way to a steady stream of people making their way towards Slane Castle. Cars, camper vans and coaches poured into the village while thousands of fans walked the roads, many in cowboy hats, boots and Luke Combs T-shirts.
I bumped into Trent and Andrea making the short walk into the village together. Trent had traveled from County Armagh, and this wasn’t just his first Slane concert; it was his first concert, full stop.
“This is my first ever concert in my life… Yeah, big fan. Number one fan from Armagh!”
Like so many arriving that morning, the concert was only part of the experience; Trent had already dropped off a camper van, met up with friends, had a couple of beers, and was simply soaking up the atmosphere.
Somehow our chat drifted to my old video rental shop in Armagh, years ago. Trent laughed: “Back when videos were popular!” It’s one of those wonderfully unexpected turns a conversation takes when you carry a microphone through Ireland.
Belfast Bound for Slane
By lunchtime, the village was packed with concertgoers from every corner of Ireland. Outside Big Bites Takeaway, I met two friends who’d made the journey from Belfast first-timers in Slane, though regular concertgoers who’d recently seen Zach Bryan and Olivia Dean. Between them, a country music fan and a Morgan Wallen fan, they were more than ready for Combs.
They planned to drive back to Belfast after the show. When I mentioned there were still tickets for Sunday, one laughed: “We’ll see how good tonight is!”
Asked where Irish Tourist Radio listeners should go in Belfast, they recommended Kelly’s Cellars for a traditional pint (Maddens also got a mention), with Yügo in East Belfast and Orto Pizza for food. Another reminder that some of the best travel advice doesn’t come from guidebooks; it comes from friendly conversations on a village street.
Sunday: The People Who Keep the Weekend Running
By Sunday morning, the village had settled into the rhythm of concert weekend crowds flowing through the streets, cafés busy again, and behind every bar dozens of people working long hours to keep everything running.
One of them was Orin, who’d traveled from Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore) in County Donegal not primarily to watch Luke Combs, but to work behind the bar. He’d still caught a little of Saturday night’s performance: “A little bit… it was excellent.”
Our conversation drifted north, as it often does whenever I meet someone from Donegal. I told him I’d once lived in Moville, while he explained he was from the Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair. For a proper traditional pub in his part of Donegal, he recommended Teach Hiúdaí Beag, known for its music sessions and pint of Guinness; for food, Caisleáin Óir in Annagry, Danny Minnie’s .
The Slane Lads
If you want to understand what the Slane concerts mean to the village, don’t just talk to the people running the pubs. Stop a group of lifelong friends on the street, which is exactly what I did with Carl, Paul, and another local friend, all of whom have spent most of their lives growing up alongside the concerts.
“So far, so good… but it’s early days.”
What followed was a friendly argument about which concerts they’d attended and who remembered the details correctly, Carl insisting The Verve was one of his earliest Slane memories, Paul immediately shooting him down (“That’s wrong!”), someone joking that his Holy Communion had been canceled for a Slane concert, another chiming in: “Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story!”
Eventually they agreed on this much: the Robbie Williams concerts were unforgettable, and U2’s performances ranked among the very best Slane has ever seen. After one U2 show, the group was so exhilarated they came back and did it all again the following weekend, an enthusiasm that’s never really disappeared.
For a pint, Carl recommended Lynch’s Pub (Slane House); for food, Silly Sid’s, with a nod to owner Jim Murray for some of the best breakfasts in the village.
Growing Up with the Slane Concerts
One of the nicest parts of walking around Slane on concert weekend is bumping into familiar faces, which happened when I met Ellie and Asena, two young women who’ve grown up in the village. I’ve known Asena since she was a little girl.
Neither of them can remember a time when the concerts weren’t part of village life.
“We’ve been to a load in Slane.”
For them, it’s simply a summer tradition woven into the fabric of the community. For a pint, they pointed to the Village Inn without hesitation; for food, Silly Sid’s. Proud of their hometown, they were just as happy to talk up the rest of Ireland. Dublin came up quickly, and Asena also recommended Dingle in County Kerry.
Soaking Up the Atmosphere
Not everyone in Slane measures concert weekend by who takes the stage. For my good friend Connell, the best part happens in the village itself.
“It’s a really good vibe, a really good buzz in the village. It’s been amazing. There’s no trouble. Everyone’s having a good time.”
Connell went to a couple of concerts twenty or twenty-five years ago; these days he prefers to absorb the atmosphere without the rush of getting to the castle itself. Asked to pick a favorite pub for a pint, he refused, diplomatically: “There’s three pubs, and they all serve really good pints,” probably the safest answer a Slane local can give.
Our conversation drifted, as so many had that weekend, to another corner of Ireland: Connell’s time in Castleblayney, and fond memories of The Spectrum, Corrigan’s Kitchen, and the now-closed Glencarn, once the place to be on a Sunday night.
Front Row Seats to the Village
One of the best places to watch concert weekend unfold isn’t inside Slane Castle at all; it’s from a chair on the pavement. Outside JesSPA Nail Salon, a group of friends had gathered to do exactly that.
For one member of the group, this was only a second Slane concert, having previously seen Kings of Leon. Barry, from Donegal, was experiencing something completely different: “First concert ever.”
The conversation wandered everywhere: Donegal, Ardee, Monaghan, Ballybay, Castletown, Rathkenny, even Cú Chulainn and Ferdia after I asked about the statue in Ardee. Recommendations for a pint came from every direction: The Whistlemount Pub in Rathkenny, Boyles across the road, Kate’s in Ballybay before one voice cut through the laughter: “I’d send them all home; they shouldn’t be drinking!” The whole group burst out laughing.
A Pint, a Welcome and the Road to Clonakilty
By Sunday afternoon, the pace had settled into something comfortable. I caught up with my good friend Robbie, who’s made Slane his home in recent years. He’d seen the Harry Styles concert, but sat this one out himself while family members went to the castle; they came back full of praise: “They said it was quite a squash in there… but they had a great time.”
Asked for the best pint in Slane, Robbie refused to choose between the village’s best-known pubs: “Boyles and The Village Inn… both of them are very welcoming, and both serve a lovely pint of Guinness.” Slane’s pubs, I’d come to realize, aren’t rivals; they’re all part of the welcome visitors receive.
Our conversation traveled south to Clonakilty, one of Robbie’s favorite places in Ireland. An Teach Beag for a great pint, and one piece of advice for anyone visiting West Cork: “Don’t leave without the Clonakilty Black and White Pudding.” I couldn’t argue with that.
A Village That Welcomes Everyone
As the weekend drew to a close, I found myself back outside Boyles Pub, where I met Rover, a lifelong Slane resident and good friend, whose thoughts summed up everything I’d experienced over the previous three days.
“As far as the people that have come, it’s been a huge success… It’s one of the most attendance-friendly crowds that have ever come to a concert in Slane.”
After a weekend spent talking to dozens of people, I couldn’t really disagree; everywhere I’d gone, I’d been met with smiles, laughter and friendly conversation.
Asked where visitors should go for a pint, Rover refused to pick just one: Boyles for its welcoming atmosphere and live music, the Village Inn for its blend of music and sport, Lynch’s (Slane House) for its spacious setting and sporting atmosphere.
“All three pubs care for the people that live in Slane in all their different, unique ways.”
After three days spent walking the streets, meeting old friends, making new ones, and listening to stories from people who’d traveled from every corner of Ireland, that felt like the perfect ending. Slane isn’t defined by one pub. It isn’t defined by one concert. It’s defined by its people.
One Conversation I’ll Save for Next Time
As I packed away my microphone, there were still a couple of people I hadn’t managed to catch: Jim and Mary, from Slane House (Lynch’s Bar). I’ve known Jim, Mary and their family for more than twenty-five years, and their pub was every bit as busy as the rest of Slane all weekend. With microphones, cameras and interviews eating up the days, there simply wasn’t time to speak to everyone I’d hoped to.
That, perhaps, is the best sign of a successful weekend.
So, Jim and Mary, if you’re reading this, we’ll save that conversation for the next concert. Every Slane weekend adds another chapter to the village’s remarkable story.
My Thanks
A sincere thank you to everyone who stopped for a chat over the Luke Combs weekend: Niall and Sylvia, Myra, Jim, Finuola, Sarah and Colm, Rhonda and Joyce, John Archbold, Wayne Harding, Andrew Cassidy, Trent and Andrea, the Belfast girls, Orin, Carl, Paul and friends, Ellie and Asena, Connell, the group outside JesSPA, Robbie and Rover thank you for sharing your stories and helping capture what makes Slane concert weekends so special.
And to everyone I didn’t manage to interview this time, including Jim and Mary from Slane House, thank you for your warm welcome. There’s always another story to tell, and I look forward to catching up with you next time.
.
As I walked back through the village and packed away my microphone, I realized I hadn’t really spent the weekend covering a Luke Combs concert. I’d spent it listening to the people who call Slane home. Long after the stages have been dismantled, the barriers removed and the crowds have gone home, those conversations are what I’ll remember most.
