Trim Castle and the town of Trim in County Meath is famous for its 12th-century medieval castle, considered the largest in Ireland. It was built by the Norman knight Hugh de Lacy on a hill bordered by the River Boyne to the north and marshy plains to the south. The stone fortress was needed after its wooden predecessor was burned by the warriors of King Rory O’Connor, who came from the west.
The town of Trim is located 30 minutes from Dublin, in County Meath.
Compared to the famous castles of the Loire Valley in France, Ireland, in this sense, also has something to brag about. The castles of the Boyne Valley are not just castles, they are also ancient burial sites. In general, the history of these places is very rich, but first things first…
In 1172, on the site of the current castle, there was a wooden fort, which was burned down during a raid by the warriors of the King of Conacht (Conacht is the western part of Ireland). By 1176, a stone castle consisting of only one tower was built on the site of the wooden fort. Over time, walls were built around the castle. The castle was periodically built on and strengthened, turning into an increasingly impregnable fortress. The castle guides will tell you about this with great enthusiasm, and for only 3.70 euros per person. By the way, you can’t just go inside the castle, the doors are locked with a large barn lock after each excursion, no more than two groups can be there at a time, because the passages and stairs are very narrow.
At various times, the castle in Trim played the role of both a mint and a prison… Richard II kept the Duke of Lancaster prisoner in this castle, who later overthrew him and became King Henry IV. The castle was badly damaged during the siege by Oliver Cromwell’s troops…
Like any medieval castle, it was a self-sufficient autonomous building in which you could live long and happily under the protection of stone walls. Food and other necessary things were delivered by river. Previously, there was a moat around the castle, now we can only guess about it. The illustrated explanatory plaques installed around the buildings testify to how the Irish lived in these places.
In 1993, Trim Castle was purchased by the state from a private owner, and since 2000 it has been open to visitors.
And, of course, the most important thing that this castle is known for to most residents of Europe and America. Here, the well-known Mel Gibson filmed his famous film “Braveheart” about the Scottish knight William Wallace. True, to achieve a greater “medieval” effect, the filmmakers worked extensively on the computer, adding a roof to the castle and many buildings around it…
Photos and videos: Tatiana Senchenko
Source: travelworld.biz