Slane Castle,
A brief history

As many know, in November 2024 we traveled all over Ireland (thank you Kim, Greg, and Denise for indulging this adventure!) to see four different wedding venues! Slane Castle was our final stop, and from the moment we stepped inside, we were completely captivated.

Slane has an incredibly unique history that we cannot wait to share with you all.

From one-of-a-kind paintings of royalty to where U2 wrote and recorded The Unforgettable Fire, we cannot believe we get to add the Kennedy-Ragsdale wedding to Slane's history books. You can of course go down their Wikipedia rabbit hole, but here are a few of our favorite stories that sealed the deal for us.

Mick Jagger has a favorite stool in the castle. Stay tuned for the big reveal during the wedding weekend.
The Conyngham family has resided on the property since 1703 and the family has lore that dates back to defeating Macbeth (yes, that Macbeth).
The family has a deep history with music, even inspiring the most famous harp to exist, that of the Guinness logo.
The grounds reside in a valley that creates a natural amphitheater. The Conyngham family decided to use this feature to hold iconic concerts with as many as 80,000 people in attendance!

Needless to say, we are very excited to experience the long weekend with all our favorite people and uncover even more fun history together!

FAQs

When should I book my accommodations?

We recommend booking your accommodations as soon as possible! Slane is a beautiful (but cozy!) town with just one main hotel, and we’d love to have all our guests stay within town proper. You’ll find details on our accommodations page, including options at the Conyngham Arms Hotel, Rock Farm, and local guest rooms. Please reach out for help to book lodging. For your convenience, we’ll have a shuttle running between the town and the castle on the wedding day. Please note, we won’t have shuttles to neighboring towns, so staying in or near Slane will be the easiest option.

Ireland's weather is unpredictable. What should I pack?

October in Ireland can be a bit unpredictable! In recent years it’s been sunny and in the 50s, but we’re planning for all possibilities. Weather permitting, many of our celebrations — including the ceremony, cocktail hour, and the day-after BBQ and games — will take place outdoors. That said, we have the entire castle exclusively for the weekend, so there’s plenty of space indoors if the weather decides not to cooperate. Either way, we’ll be celebrating in style! You can check out our schedule for more details.

When do I need to RSVP by?

We are asking people to RSVP by July 1, 2026. We know planning a trip across the ocean takes time, so no stress if you can’t commit right away! If you already know you can make it, we’d love for you to RSVP. But if not, that’s completely okay! Just keep us posted as things evolve, and we’ll make it work.

Can I bring my kid(s)?

We love your little ones! That said, our wedding and reception will be more intimate, so we kindly ask that guests not bring children under 16 to the reception itself. If you’d like to make the trip a family adventure, we love and support this! Please just let us know, and we’ll do our best to help make things as smooth as possible. The castle staff have indicated that there are many childcare options in town that we can put you in touch with.