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The Curtain Wall
Trim Castle is the largest Cambro-Norman castle in Ireland – and possibly the prettiest and most interesting, as well.
Seen one castle, seen them all?
Not quite!
During our wet month in Ireland in 2012 (Ireland), we visited a lot of castles in various states of ruin, renovation, or disrepair. What surprised me most was how different they all actually are.
Perhaps it was the brief respite from the rain, but my husband and I agreed that our guided tour of the keep at Trim Castle – the largest Cambro-Norman castle in Ireland – was the most interesting castle tour we had participated in. And, having rare blue skies overhead made the castle surrounds more attractive.
Trim Castle sits strategically on raised ground on the south bank of the River Boyne in Trim, County Meath, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) up-river from the Irish Sea. Once upon a time, that mattered. County Meath marked the outer northern boundary of “The Pale” (An Pháil): that part of Ireland under direct control of the Plantagenet Kings of England in the late Middle Ages.
A fortified ringwork was started in 1172 by the Lordship of Meath, Hugh de Lacy, and the castle itself was built over a period of 30 years – being finished around 1224 by de Lacy’s son Walter. The central three-story keep is cross shaped, with twenty corners: a unique design for a Norman donjon or great tower. The land and buildings were sold to the State in 1993. The Irish Office of Public Works then conducted a major six-million euro project of archaeological and conservation works, including partial restoration of the moat and the installation of a protective roof, before re-opening the castle to the public in 2000.
It’s a very pretty castle, and I really liked the concept of using a clear roof to allow light into the keep tower, while maintaining the character of the ruins.
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Caisleán Bhaile Atha Troim
Old stonework leads us over the moat and in through the Trim Castle entry gate.
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Trim Castle Keep
The castle keep (also known as a donjon or great tower) is three stories high and forms a cross in the centre of the grounds.
The Great Hall
Only the harbour wall remains of the huge late 13th-century three-aisled great hall.
Trim Castle Ruins
A river gate was built into the wall near the Great Hall so that goods could be taken in directly from boats on the water. The ruin on the other side of the River Boyne is the Yellow Steeple – the last relic of what was once St. Mary’s Abbey.
The Keeper of the Key
Access to the keep is only by guided tour. At the appointed time, we found our guide with the giant key to the keep door.
Keep Model
On the ground floor, there is a model of the keep structure, which our guide explains to us.
Inside the Keep
Stairs and walkways rise up through the old, mossy interior.
Spiral Staircase
Before we head up the steep staircase, our guide explains how it spirals to the right: that way any attackers who made it this far would need their right hands for the central support, forcing them to put their swords in their left hands. Defenders, on the contrary, have their right hands free.
Arches and Stairways
Dark rooms are all through the keep, with their beautiful old stones attracting moss in the damp low light.
Deep Windows
Windows through the thick keep walls let some light into the small rooms.
Upper Floors
I love the contrast of the sleek modern scaffolded walkways and clear tubular framed roof …
Corridor in the Keep
… against the mossy crumbled appearance of the ancient stone walls and the rough-hewn floors where the walkways end.
Plants and Moss
Even though the roof keeps the rain off our heads, there is still enough moisture in the old walls to support plenty of vegetation.
Listening
Our guide is full of fascinating information and stories about the castle.
View over Trim
Outside at the top of the keep we get good views over the town…
Barbican Gate
… and over the curving curtain wall and the huge round Barbican Gate.
Weeds in the Rocks
Back outside the keep, plants grab hold where they can.
St Patrick’s Church
Not to be confused with the older Cathedral Church of St Patrick on the other side of the river, the elegant St. Patrick’s Church sits outside the castle’s curtain wall.
The Curtain Wall
The inside of the curtain wall is buttressed and honeycombed with rooms.
Outside Trim Castle
Behind the curtain wall of Trim Castle, the top of the cruciform keep can be seen.
The Dublin Gate
The arched Dublin Gate in the southern curtain wall is distinctive and beautiful.
Arch in the Gate
It is also a great place for children; …
Kids on the Wall
… National Geographic have listed Trim Castle as one of their “10 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life.”
Outside the Curtain Wall
Beyond the curtain wall, the more modern city encroaches on the castle. There was a lot of controversy over allowing the construction of the five-storey hotel across the road.
Trim Castle stood in for the English town of ‘York’ in Mel Gibson’s movie Braveheart, and was also used as the location for the ‘London square’ scenes.
It is truly a magical place.
Until next time –
Sláinte
Pictures: 05July2012
it was indeed a beautiful castle made all the better by the guide and his historical facts. Love the photo’s. Well done