Trim Castle
Trim castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland and the largest remaining Normam castle in Europe. The castle was constructed over a thirty year period by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter.

Construction occurred in three stages, initially by Hugh de Lacy in circa 1174 when construction begun on the site of an earlier wooden fortress which had been burned down. Further stages followed in 1196 and 1206 by Walter de Lacy.

The design of the keep is most unusual, comprising a massive square block with towers projecting from the middle of each face. The towers have thinner walls and it is possible that they were added not for additional protection, but to provide extra rooms.

Two-thirds of the huge curtain walls still stand - when complete, the curtain walls would have had a perimiter of about 500 yards. They must have been completed by 1224 when William Marshall, the justiciar, besieged the castle for seven weeks, for it is unlikely the castle could have withstood his army for such a period without the protection of the curtain walls.

Other buildings include a very unusual circular barbican gate in the curtain walls, serving as the Dublin gate, a square gate house on the town side, called the Trim Gate, the outline of a mid-13th century great hall and a mint.

During the late Middle-ages, Trim was the capital of County Meath and one of the principal administrative centres of the English Pale. Its importance is underlined by the fact that the Irish Parliament sat here on a number of occasions, notably in 1465 when it passed a law authorizing the beheading of all robbers or those under suspicion of robbery such was the lawlessness that prevailed at the time. The heads of those executed were placed as spikes to act as a deterrent. In 1971, archaeological excavations were undertaken and the bodies of 10 headless men (most probably criminals) were uncovered.

The importance of the site declined in the 16th and 17th centuries and it was to pass through the hands of the Wellington and Plunkett families until it was bought by the state in 1993 when archaeological and conservation work began.

The castle experienced a renaissance in 2000 when it opened to the public after completion of the phase of excavation and restoration work. Access to the keep is by guided tour only for safety reasons. Visitors also have access to the grounds of the castle where interpretation panels allow for self-guiding.

Trim Castle is open to the public everyday from Easter Saturday to Halloween (October 31st) from 10am, with first tour at 10.30am, last entry at 5pm and last tour at 5.15pm. In winter it is open only on weekends and bank holidays.

+ back to sights