Oasis are always welcome at Slane according to the Castle owner - but not necessarily next year.
After announcing a few weeks ago that he’s hoping to hold a massive gig in 2026, speculation has been rife that Oasis will be the act headlining at the historic grounds in Co. Meath.
Now after the Britpop legends sold out gigs in Croke park at the weekend, new lord of the castle Alex Conyngham commented ‘I was delighted for the fans… Not many bands could have people out singing in the streets like that’. He said that Oasis ‘would always be welcome’ at Slane, giving the strongest hint yet that he could already be in talks with the Gallagher brothers.
Oasis have already played Slane twice before, first in July 1995 as an opening act for REM, just a few months before the release of their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? in October of that year.
They performed at the castle again in 2009, this time as a headliner supported by The Prodigy and Kasabian, playing to a crowd of 80,000 people. They split up later the same year.
Mr Conyngham remembers the gig fondly, "It was their first outdoor show they had ever done at that time so I think Slane will always have a place in their history for that reason.”
And he got on great with Noel, commenting "He was extremely sound. A lovely fella and we ended up talking about kids and all kinds of things.
He pointed out that if the band was to play Slane again, they would be the second group to play the venue three times, joined only by U2.
When asked if next year’s headliner would be a legacy act such as Oasis or someone newer, he said: ‘We don’t want to box ourselves in’. He went on to say he would be ‘open to both’ types of artists playing at Slane as ‘over the years we have been known to switch genres.’
While it’s primarily seen as a rock venue, Slane has also been headlined by pop star Harry Styles and rapper Eminem.
The 2026 show will mark the 45th anniversary of concerts being held at the estate. The first gig at Slane Castle was in 1981, with Thin Lizzy headlining. Acts such as Bob Dylan, Queen, Madonna and David Bowie have since appeared.
