Trim
Ireland · Other
About Trim
Trim is a town in County Meath 50 km northwest of Dublin. With a population in 2022 of 9600, it's primarily a commuter town for the capital, but its castle and other historic sites point to its significance in the nation's affairs. Trim is a good base for visiting the Hill of Tara; the county town of Navan is closer but lacks visitor amenities.
Trim travel guide
Understand
Trim (Baile Átha Troim, "town at the ford of elderflowers") stands at a crossing of the River Boyne, guarded by a large Norman castle. The Normans rebuilt the 5th-century monastery as St Mary's Abbey, with other abbeys established at Blackfriars and at Newtown, and they walled the town. This heritage has been much assaulted over centuries of wars and tumults, but enough remains to make it worth a day or two's visit, and it's been used as a location in several films. The ambiance was much improved when town centre was bypassed in the 1980s. Trim is nowadays the national headquarters of the Office of Public Works (Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí) which maintains many of Ireland's sites. Trim Tourist Office (☏ +353 46 943 7227) is by the castle entrance. It's open M-F 9:30AM-5:30PM, Sa Su noon-4PM.
Getting there
Bus Éireann 111 runs hourly from Dublin Busáras via Batterstown to Trim (one hour) and continues to Athboy. Bus 111X is a commuter special M-F. 109B runs from Dublin Busáras every two hours via Blanchardstown, Dunshaughlin and Kilmessan to Trim, taking 75 min. From the airport take Bus 109A (heading for Kells) and change at Dunshaughlin (except on the one bus a day that serves Trim). At night Bus 109A starts from city centre. Bus 190 runs hourly from Drogheda (for trains from Belfast) via Slane, Navan and Connell's Cross (for Bective Abbey), taking an hour to Trim. The buses make several stops in Trim including by the castle entrance. For route maps and stop locations, see the TFI route mapper. By road from Dublin follow M3 to junction 6 at Dunshaughlin then R125 / R154 north; reckon just under an hour.
Getting around
You can walk to Newtown Abbey along the riverbank. You need wheels for the outlying sites. Taxi operators are Trim Taxi +353 86 388 8500 and Donie Quinn +353 46 943 6009.
See
1 Trim Castle, Castle St, Trim C15 HN90, ☏ +353 46 943 8619. Daily 10AM-5PM. Substantial remains of a large Norman castle, built from 1174 by Hugh de Lacy, smashed up the moment his back was turned by Irish king Rory O'Connor, then rebuilt to 1224. It was captured but only slightly damaged in later upheavals, so it's well-preserved and makes a great movie location: in Braveheart it was used for York Castle. There's a long curtain wall on three sides, with the river protecting the other side; there's also a moat ditch and various barbicans and sally-ports. The sturdy 3-storey keep, unusually, is cruciform. It contained two great halls but is nowadays hollow. In 1465 King Edward IV made it a capital offence not only to rob, but to be going to rob at some unspecified time in the future, so the ten beheaded men found buried by the keep in 1971 were either thieves or a time-loop contradiction. Adult €5, conc €4, child €3. (updated Apr 2021) St Mary's Abbey is the ruin facing the castle across the river. Supposedly founded by St Patrick, it was twice burnt down in the 12th century, along with everyone who'd taken refuge inside. It became an Augustinian abbey and probably a stone structure later that century, but burned again in 1368. Rebuilt, the abbey acquired a statue of the Virgin Mary that became revered across Ireland, drawing pilgrims and royal patronage for its supposed healing powers. But come the Dissolution this too was ceremonially burned, and the abbey wrecked for the final time. There wasn't really anything left to destroy when Oliver Cromwell's forces arrived in 1649 but (through force of habit) he destroyed anyway. The only substantial remnant is the 40 m bell tower: this catches the sunset as seen from town so it's dubbed the Yellow Steeple. The area is free to stroll 24 hours. Talbot Castle next to the "steeple" is a fortified manor house built in 1415 with stone taken from the abbey. Talbot was bested at Orleans by Joan of Arc, but lived to fight again.
Do
Aura Leisure Centre is off Newhaggard Rd. It has a pool, gym and fitness classes. For theatre or cinema you'll need to go to Navan. Golf: the closest course is at Knightsbrook Hotel, see Sleep. South Meath GC and County Meath GC are both southwest on R160. Killeen Castle in Dunsany is a plush resort with a championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus, see Sleep. Learn to fly at Trim Flying Club. The airfield is 4 km along R161 towards Navan. Trim Poetry Festival is in March. Haymaking Festival is held on Porchfields in mid-June. Trim Vintage & Veteran Car Show is in late July on Porchfields. Salmon of Knowledge Festival in late August is a mixed bag of music, culture, wellness, a round-Ireland race, and other goings-on known only to the salmon. Royal Meath Show is held on Porchfields in the first week of September.
Buy
Aldi by the Emmett St bridge is open M-F 9AM-10PM, Sa Su 9AM-9PM.
Eat
... a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food.... - Jonathan Swift's "Modest Proposal" was for the poor to sell their excess children for the rich to eat. Franzini's, 5 Frenchs Lane, Trim C15 NH34, ☏ +353 46 943 1002. Tu-Sa 5-9:30PM, Su 1-9PM. Modern European cooking. (updated Apr 2021) Stockhouse Restaurant, 1 Finnegan's Way, Trim C15 P638, ☏ +353 46 943 7388. Tu-Th 5-9PM, F Sa 4:30-10PM, Su 1-8:30PM. Meaty fare with large portions. (updated Apr 2021) Khan Spices at 9 Emmett St is open M-Sa 5-11PM, Su 2-10PM.
Drink & nightlife
Sally Rogers, Bridge St, Trim, ☏ +353 46 948 3510. M-F 6-11:30PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-11PM. Standard town pub and sports bar, but nice views of the river. (updated Apr 2021) James Griffin Pub (Lenihan's), 21 High St, Trim C15 FP98, ☏ +353 46 943 1295. Traditional "spirit store" pub draws a large, younger crowd at weekends. Trad music midweek. (updated Apr 2021) The High Horse at 7 Market St is open daily to 11:30PM. Marcy Regan's, Lacknalash Rd, Trim (east at Blackfriary bridge). Lively pub with trad music at weekends. Brú Brewery, founded in 2013, is on the business park north side of town. No tours.
Sleep
The hostel has closed down, and there isn't a campsite. Trim Castle Hotel, Castle St, Trim C15 FCY8, ☏ +353 46 948 3000. Comfy mid-range hotel with 68 rooms next to the castle, serves good food. B&B double €110. (updated Apr 2021) 1 Old Rectory, St Loman's St, Trim C15 EY62, ☏ +353 86 233 9229. Plush upscale B&B in a Georgian townhouse, dog-friendly. B&B double €90. (updated Apr 2021) 2 Castle Arch Hotel, Summerhill Rd, Trim C15 WD92, ☏ +353 46 943 1516. Mid-range, modern place gets mostly good reviews, but some lapses, and noise from the nightclub. B&B double €110. (updated Apr 2021) 3 Brogan's Hotel, High St, Trim C15 K2CV, ☏ +353 46 943 1237. Bar with accommodation near town centre. (updated Apr 2021) 4 Knightsbrook Hotel, Dublin Rd, Trim C15 WYF4, ☏ +353 46 948 2100. Plush hotel with spa and golf course, great dining, some rooms tired, often caters for weddings. B&B double €150. (updated Apr 2021) 5 Tigh Catháin B&B, Longwood Rd, Trim C15 A278, ☏ +353 46 943 1996. Friendly B&B open year round. B&B double €80. (updated Apr 2021) Highfield House on Maudlins Rd in 2021 only offers self-catering. Station Hous
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.