Trim Castle

Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland. Built by Hugh de Lacy from 1172, its twenty-sided keep is unique in the British Isles. The castle was a key administrative center for the Anglo-Norman Lordship of Meath.

Why it mattered

• Largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland
• Unique twenty-sided keep
• Center of the Lordship of Meath

Architecture and the site

• Cruciform keep with projecting towers
• Extensive curtain walls and barbican

Chronology (selected)

• 1172: Hugh de Lacy begins construction
• 1176: Destroyed by Rory O'Connor; rebuilt

Further reading

• Tadhg O'Keeffe, "Medieval Ireland: An Archaeology" (2001)

Hub essays

• Region context: normans in ireland invasion and the shared bibliography.
• Castles and fortification: Norman castles — motte to stone.

On the map

Use Open on map to fly to this pin in the Norman expansion era. Layers are teaching overlays — pair them with charters, excavation reports, and the works above.