There will be no Slane Castle concert in 2018

With it's sloping lawns, picturesque setting, and international reputation as being one of the best places to play a concert, the annual Slane Castle concert is always one of the highlights in the Irish music season.

Following on from a rip-roaring show in 2017 courtesy of Guns'N'Roses, expectations were high for who might be coming to Ireland this summer. But unfortunately, when the announcement was made this afternoon about the 2018 Slane concert - it wasn't quite the one we were hoping for.

This morning Lord Henry announced there will be no concert at Slane this year but that he is actively working on a show for 2019.

— Slane Castle (@slanecastle) February 12, 2018

The concert is normally attended each year by the owner of Slane Castle, Lord Henry Mountcharles. However, last year was the first that the famous owner had stayed away, due to ill health. In a column for the Irish Mirror, Lord Mountcharles informed readers that he had been "on a knife edge" last year in St. James Hospital in Dublin last year.

The likes of U2, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Eminem have all performed at Slane Castle over the years.

The one-day festival is scheduled to return in 2019.