Slane Castle
30th May, 2026
An intimate afternoon/evening of fine food, light jazz/swing,
& Irish traditional music within the walls of a legendary castle.
Available in 1 of 3 Options
Join a small circle of guests for a private dining and music experience at Slane Castle -
from champagne in the ballroom to late-night trad tunes and sliders by candlelight.
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Fine Dining
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Jazz & Traditional Irish Music
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Historic Irish Castle
An Experience, Not Just an Event
This is not a ticketed show. It is a shared, one-off gathering of friends and friends-of-friends, where everyone contributes to bring something extraordinary to life. From the first glass of champagne to the final notes of traditional music, the day unfolds in chapters – each one designed to linger in the memory long after you leave the castle. All cultural soireé’s events are not for profit and produced for nothing other than to create an environment where music and food are presented in special surroundings to create some lovely memories for its guests. All musicians are invited to join the day as our guests as well as perform their magic on the day.
The Day, In Brief
Arrive to the sound of an incredible harpist while sipping champagne. Wander historic rooms of Slane Castle, Settle into an afternoon jazz set with some of Irelands outstanding Jazz legends, take a distillery tour, enjoy an incredible culinary experience prepared by chef Johnnie Cooke, and then a late-night trad session with some of Ireland’s finest musicians.
Slane Castle: History, Warmth, & Rock ’n’ Roll
Set on a sprawling estate in the heart of County Meath, Slane Castle has hosted everything from intimate gatherings to legendary rock concerts. For this event, its Gothic ballroom and dining rooms become the backdrop to a day of conversation, music and slow, generous dining.
Highlights
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Historic Irish Castle
Historic Irish castle estate with sweeping grounds and river views.
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Elegant Ballroom
Elegant ballroom and dining rooms reserved exclusively for our group.
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Private Tour
Private castle tour.
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Slane Distillery
Access to the Slane Distillery and time to stroll the grounds at your own pace.
We have the entire ground floor
of the castle for relaxing.
A Menu by Chef Johnnie Cooke
Dinner will be created and hosted by renowned Dublin restaurateur and chef Johnnie Cooke, known for his Mediterranean–Californian cooking, fresh seasonal ingredients and “food that sings and dances.”
About the Chef
Over 35 years at the forefront of Irish dining, from the iconic Cooke’s Café , an array of private service for the most famous Irish celebrities and business people along with projects in Brown Thomas and Avant Café & Restaurant.
On the Night
On the night, Johnnie will introduce the table d’hôte menu himself, sharing the story behind the dishes and ingredients before we begin. The meal will be unhurried – more like a dinner party than a restaurant sitting – with jazz musicians and our host joining us at the table.
Earlier in the day, a relaxed single-dish Asian-fusion lunch will be served with champagne on arrival.
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Signature Style
Signature style that blends Mediterranean and Californian influences with Irish produce – vibrant, elegant, and deceptively simple.
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Signature Dishes
Beloved dishes such as lobster pizza, crispy octopus a la plancha and red wine–braised short rib, alongside refined seasonal menus.
From Swinging Jazz to Late-Night Trad
Music is the heartbeat of the day – beginning with a live harp as you step into the castle, moving into an afternoon jazz ensemble, and finishing with a full traditional Irish music session into the night.
Afternoon Jazz Ensemble
A handpicked ensemble of leading Irish jazz players will set the tone for the afternoon – relaxed, sophisticated and playful. Expect standards, improvisation and the kind of easy swing that invites conversation rather than drowns it out.
Evening Traditional Session
Later in the evening, the energy shifts to an intimate, high-spirited trad session led by some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians. This is the moment when the day relaxes completely – songs, stories and tunes shared around the room.
Jazz Musicians
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Hugh Buckley
Acclaimed guitarist and composer.
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Michael Buckley
One of Ireland’s leading saxophonists.
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Des Lacey
Dublin-based drummer and experienced across many styles.
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Paul Frost
Irish trombonist known for projects with all-star Irish jazz line-ups.
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Nev Lloyd
Accomplished double bass player and regular on the Dublin scene.
Evening Traditional Session
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Cathal Hayden
Fiddle and banjo virtuoso.
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Mairtin O'Connor
Celebrated accordionist and composer.
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Don Stiffe
Award-winning traditional singer.
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Steve Dunne
Renowned banjo player.
The Day at a Glance
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Champagne and drinks on arrival, with live traditional harp music in the background and time to settle into the castle’s atmosphere. Served with a range of single-dish light lunch treats.
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A enjoyable shorttour of the castle , including stories from the estate’s history.
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Starts, 45m, break of 15 mins for chat and drinks , then 45m.
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Guided tour of the distillery (around 20 minutes), followed by Canopies and some free time to stroll the grounds, take photos and enjoy the estate.
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Guests gather in the magnificent Ball Room for a multi-course fine dining experience prepared by Johnnie Cooke. Johnnie. We ask, the musicians and Alex join us at the table, and the evening unfolds around food, wine and conversation.
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A full traditional music session begins with an extraordinary line up of some of Irelands most amazing musical legends, with space to sit close, listen, and enjoy the atmosphere.
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As the night winds down, sliders are served for anyone who wishes to stay a little longer before departure.
30th May, 2026
Stay the Night
Accommodation is not included in the per-person contribution, but there are several excellent options nearby, from castle rooms to yurts and local hotels.
Slane Castle - Limited Availability
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Rock Farm
Across the estate you’ll find yurts, cabins and houses, all with ensuite rooms - a comfortable, rustic-luxury option that keeps you close to the castle.
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Cunningham Arms Hotel
Nearby, Cunningham Arms Hotel offers traditional hotel rooms in the local areas for those who prefer to stay in town.
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Boyne House
Boyne House offers elegant guest rooms in a peaceful garden setting just a short distance from the castle.
Contribution & Transparency
This is a private, shared-cost event rather than a commercial offering. Everyone, including the host, contributes the same amount. The total cost of running the day is divided equally by the number of guests that will be attending.
What Your Contribution Covers
Musicians, luxury coach, all drinks, food, castle rental, tours, table hire, compere.
Ask a Question
Access to this event is by private invitation only. If you have received an email invitation with a registration code, please use the form below to confirm your place. For all other enquiries please email info@culturalsoirees.com
Please complete all fields so we can plan the day with care.
From Lambay to Slane
Our last gathering took place on Lambay Island – a day of sea air, good wine, music and conversation that many guests still talk about. This new chapter at Slane Castle builds on the same spirit: small, carefully curated, and built on trust, transparency and shared enthusiasm.
I’ve always loved bringing people together in places that have stories in their walls – where food, music and conversation can breathe. Slane feels like the natural next step after Lambay: the history, the grounds, the music, the distillery, and now Johnnie’s food. If you feel the pull to be there, I’d be delighted to share the day with you.
Yours,
Robert White.
Getting There
Park & Ride
There is a luxury coach leaving from Burlington Hotel Dublin 4 at 12.00pm stopping at the Skyklon Hotel 12.30pm and then Slane Castle at 13.15pm which you can park and ride from. It will return when the event is over at a time by general consensus of the passengers travelling.
There will also be a floating car to bring people to and from local accommodation.
Slanecastle Demesne, Slane,
Co. Meath, Ireland