Trim Castle, County Meath

Impressive Ruins of The Largest Anglo-Norman Castle in Ireland

May 5, 2009 Anthony Toole

Guarding a ford over the River Boyne, 25 miles north-west of Dublin, the ancient town of Trim played a major role in the twelfth century Norman settlement of Ireland.

In 1172, Henry II granted the kingdom of Meath to Hugh de Lacy, as a counterbalance to the growing power, in Ireland, of Strongbow, Richard de Clare. Four years later, de Lacy, together with his son, Walter, began building the huge keep, as a replacement for the original wooden fort. Over the next thirty years, the keep was improved and enlarged. A curtain wall was added, around which a moat was dug that could be flooded from the Boyne, which flows past the northern wall.

Trim Castle played its part in the political turmoil of the succeeding centuries, and the future Henry V was, for a time imprisoned there by Richard II.

Curtain Wall and Southern Gateway of Trim Castle

The circumference of the curtain wall extends almost to 500 yards, and encloses an area of two acres. Its continuity is punctuated by ten cylindrical towers and two gateways. The southern gateway consists of a tower linked by a bridge to a barbican and controlled by an elaborate system of gates, drawbridge and portcullis. In the twelfth century, this looked over swampy ground that was easily defended. To the north, the first line of defence was the river.

Wildlife in Trim Castle Moat

The remaining section of the moat that once surrounded the wall lies beneath the north wall. Though small in extent, this remnant has evolved into a miniature wildlife refuge. Being surrounded by willow, gorse and reeds, it provides a habitat for flowers such as water mint and yellow flag iris and a place where reed buntings, herons, kingfishers, mallard and coot can thrive.

Unique Architecture of the Keep

The castle grounds are reached by ascending a ramp, which leads to the north-west gate. In the centre is the keep, which originally housed the lord and his family, their chaplain, officials and a small garrison. It has a unique design, and was experimental in the military architecture of the day. Its twenty sides rose to three storeys and contained cellars ample enough to store all the food necessary for withstanding a prolonged siege. Invaders would have had to break through four doors before entering the keep.

On the lowest level, visitors can examine models which illustrate how the keep looked during the three main periods of its construction. Two stair wells lead up through the chapel and living quarters to the roof, from which an extensive view over the town and surrounding countryside can be enjoyed.

During the second half of the twelfth century, a period of prosperity led to the building of the Great Hall, in which courts, meetings and feasts were held. It also contained living quarters. The foundations can be seen in the north-west corner of the grounds. During this period also, the town grew under the protection of the castle and the river was developed as a major line of communication and transport.

St Mary's Augustinian Priory and Yellow Steeple

The high ground across the river from the castle is dominated by the 125-feet-high Yellow Steeple. This was the bell tower of St Mary's Priory, which was founded by Augustinian monks in the thirteenth century, on the site of an earlier structure thought to have been founded by St Patrick. It was destroyed in the seventeenth century by the guns of Cromwell's army. The steeple shares the hilltop with a section of the old town wall.

Trim Castle is now managed by the Office of Public Works. Like most structures of its period, it is now largely a ruin, but is in sufficiently good condition to have provided a backdrop to a number of scenes in the 1995 film, 'Braveheart'.

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