General Notes

Baldwyn (1298) 6th Baron of Slane, married matilda Geneville, one of
five daughters of Simon geneville, Lord of Culmullen in county Meath. By
this marriage Baldwyn became connected with the noble and powerful
family of Mortimer, Earl of March. Rogert Mortimer, Earl of March
married Joan the only daughter of Peter Geneville, Lord of Trim. This
resulted in uniting the 2 great palatinates of Ulster and Trim, which
eventually became part of the crown of King Edward the IV. Baldwyn had
acquired greater influence and importance than any preseding Baron of
Slane. This was in the years 1317 and 1322.

The Barons of Ireland summoned in 1295 consisted of only 29 individuals,
while those summoned in 1309 to the Parliament in Kilkenny by King
Edward II, were 87..an increase or addition of 58 in 14 years. That was
done for the following reason. "King Edward III, being greatly bearded
and crossed by the Lords of Clergy, they being there, by reason of the
Lords, Abbots and others. Too many and too strong for him so that he
could not, for their forwardness, order and reform things as he desired,
WAS ADVISED TO DIRECT OUT HIS WRITS TO CERTAINE GENTLEMEN OF THE BEST
ABILITY AND TRUST, entitling them Barons, in the Parliament, by which
means he had so many Barons in his Parliament as were able to weigh down
the clergy and their friends."

Among these gentlemen of THE BEST ABILITY AND TRUST in 1309 was Baldwyn
le Fleming, palatinate Baron of Slane, who was summoned to the
celebrated Parliament held at Kilkenny by King Edward II. It should be
noted the writ was directed to Baldwin Fleming and not Baron of Slane,
therefore his partiamentary title made some difference. Sir John Wogan
was Lord Justice of Ireland at that time. His granddaugher later married
the great grandson of Baldwyn. Lord Baldwyn Fleming died 1335, leaving
his son as heir.

Situated in the Boyne valley overlooking the River Boyne just a few miles upstream from the site of the famous Battle of the Boyne, Slane Castle in its existing form was reconstructed under the direction of William Burton Conyngham, together with his nephew the first Marquess Conyngham. The reconstruction dates back to 1785 and is principally the work of James Gandon, James Wyatt and Francis Johnston. Francis Johnston, one of Ireland's most distinguished architects, is responsible for the dramatic gothic gates on the Mill Hill.
The Conynghams are originally a noble Scottish family, and first settled in Ireland in 1611 in County Donegal. There has been an active association between the Conynghams and the Slane Estate dating back over 300 years, ever since the property was purchased by the family following the Williamite Confiscations in 1701.