WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IN TRIM
Whilst Trim Castle is without doubt the main attraction in our town it is far from all we have to offer visitors. Within a short walking distance of Trim town centre there are plenty of sights to be taken in and activities to enjoy.
Here are just a few attractions our town has to offer.
THE JEALOUS MAN AND WOMAN
A short and pleasurable walk along the River Boyne takes you to the wonderful medieval ruins of Newtown Cathedral and Parish Church where the site of one of Trim’s old traditions and mystic beliefs can be found.
(Tomb of the Jealous Man and Woman)
The effigies of Sir Lucas Dillon and his wife, Lady Jane Bathe can be found on a Tomb in the old cemetery along with hundreds of rusty pins. Why the pins? Well, that is the mystic part. It is old folklore in Trim, going back a long long time, that if you were to find an unwanted wart on your finger the cure was found at the tomb of the ‘Jealous Man and Woman’. Take a pin with you and rub it on your wart before leaving it at the tomb and the wart will disappear!
NEWTOWN GRAVEYARD
Newtown Graveyard, is located at Newtown Abbey on the banks of the River Boyne.
(Newtown Graveyard)
It once was the largest Abbey of its kind in Ireland. It is still used as a graveyard for the town so there are no guided tours but there are lots of Information boards with pictures of what certain areas used to look like.
RIVER WALKS
This tranquil river walk commences at Trim Castle and finishes at the ruins of the 13th century town of Newtown, providing a glimpse of life in Trim in the Middle Ages.
(Walking route by the River Boyne)
From the interpretative panels, learn more about the medieval town, life in the Porchfields, medieval past-times, farming and forestry. Once you reach Newtown, retrace your steps back to the Castle.
TRIM LIVING HISTORY
At the Trim Visitor Centre which is located at the entrance to Trim Castle you can enjoy the Trim Living History tour where a guide will fill you with everything interesting from our town’s passed times.
(Trim Living History)
Your guides are dressed in period wear to give you an impression of what it was like to be living in Trim during the 1100’s when the building of Trim Castle was completed. A fantastic tour and well worth your time!
Check out www.facebook.com/trimvisitorcentre for more details.
BOYNE VALLEY ACTIVITIES
Kayaking – Boat Tours – Paintball – Rafting – Bike Hire – High Ropes
If you fancy taking in some wonderful scenery whilst enjoying some of the fantastic outdoor activities that BOYNE VALLEY ACTIVITIES offer you wish you had decided to book yourself a spot much earlier.
Check out their website www.boynevalleyactivities.ie
TRIM CASTLE
Trim Castle is one of the main reasons Trim is Ireland’s heritage capital town. Now if you saw the 30,000 m² site, you would surely be amazed by the beauty of this castle.
The Keep and Curtain Walls of Trim Castle
Building of the castle started in 1178 by Hugh de Lacey and was completed around 30 years later. It was built for the head of the “Lordship of Meath” as it was known as in those days. It is the biggest Norman castle in Europe.
The castle was handed by Lord Dunsany (owner of the castle) to the state in 1993. The office of public works then installed a roof onto the castle as well as electricity and all that. It was reopened to the public in 2000.
The castle provides fully guided tours of the keep and all of its surrounds. It will also explain the meaning for all of the nearby buildings as well. And to top it all off, the beautiful view at the top of the castle.
For anyone who is visiting Trim, a visit to the prestigious Trim Castle should be put on the to-do list.
The last thing you will be, is disappointed.
SHEEPS GATE
The Sheeps Gate is the last remaining gate in a ruined section of the town wall which was built by Geoffrey de Geneville, who occupied Trim Castle during its hey-day in the second half of the 13th century.
. The name Sheeps Gate not recorded before the 19th century, it may have been known as the Porch Gate, possibly from French porte (“door”), which may also give its name to the Porch Fields lying outside the city walls. The gate was locked between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m
THE YELLOW STEEPLE
Once, the bell tower of the abbey, dating from 1368 but damaged by Cromwell’s soldiers in 1649. It takes its name from the colour of the stonework at dusk.
The tower, constructed of punched and squared lime stone, served as the abbey’s bell tower. The tower still retains the remnant of a spiral staircase, which was built without a newel. The eastern wall rises seven storeys and the southern wall reaches five, but little to nothing remains of the other sides of the formerly square tower.
ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a 15th century Church Tower containing a medieval grave stone. It is now attached to a 19th Century Church, behind which part of the 16th Century chancel survives.
it is now one of two cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Meath and Kildare which is part of the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.
ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH
Saint Patrick’s is a Gothic Revival church set in landscaped grounds which sweep down from Patrick Street towards the grounds of Trim Castle.
Designed by William Hague, architectural quality is apparent in the scale, form, features and materials. The combination of the rock-faced rubble limestone and ashlar dressings provide interesting textural detail.
THE PRIORY OF ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST
Beside the old Newtown Bridge that spans the River Boyne stands the ruins of the Priory and Hospital of St John the Baptist. The priory was founded for the ‘Crutched Friars’ (name is from the wooden staffs they carried which were topped by a cross) by Simon de Rochfort c 1202, about the same time as he founded the Cathedral and medieval parish church. The Friars were Augustinians who ran hospitals and guest houses.
The priory was dissolved in 1540 and the buildings were re-used as a private residence. The ruins were quite confusing at first, as there is so much of it, but slowly it all came together. Along with the Cathedral and parish church at Newtown Trim this whole complex is very impressive.
St John’s Priory
The priory is situated in the main part of “heritage trim”, so while taking a spin to the jealous man and woman or the graveyard, you should definitely stop in here and see what old leper hospitals used to be like.
The heritage of the place is really beautiful and with the River Boyne running alongside, it just adds to the beauty of the scene.
This is one really recommended visit.
