Today we explored two impressive castles: the massive Norman stronghold of Trim Castle and the quieter, but still fascinating, ruins of Maynooth Castle. Each offered a unique perspective on Ireland’s medieval history and made for a day full of stone towers, winding staircases, and echoes of the past.

Trim Castle

We began the day at Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. The site is expansive and dramatic, with a towering keep and thick curtain walls that dominate the surrounding landscape. We joined a guided tour that took us inside the keep, where we climbed narrow staircases and looked out from high battlements. The guide shared stories of sieges, medieval life, and film trivia — since the castle was famously used in Braveheart. Exploring the grounds afterward gave us time to admire the scale of the ruins and imagine what life might have been like within those massive walls.

Trim Castle rises above the River Boyne, a fortress steeped in history and legend. Once a Norman stronghold, it has witnessed centuries of battles, kings, and whispers of ghosts in its halls. The captions below trace its stories — from stone to shadow, fact to folklore.
Construction began in the late 12th century by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter as a stronghold to control the surrounding territory granted to them by King Henry II of England.
The castle’s massive three-story keep, extensive curtain walls, and defensive towers make it a prime example of Norman military architecture.
Over the centuries, it saw action during Irish uprisings and was an important administrative center until its decline in the 17th century.
Trim Castle is perhaps most famously known today for its prominent role in Mel Gibson’s 1995 film Braveheart.
When director Mel Gibson was scouting locations for Braveheart, he needed a castle that could believably represent the 13th-century strongholds of England and Scotland. While the story is set largely in Scotland, many of the iconic scenes were filmed in Ireland
Some notable scenes from Braveheart that were filmed at Trim Castle...
The attack on York, where William Wallace leads his men to storm the city gates and beheads the governor, was filmed inside the walls of Trim Castle.
The infamous scene where King Edward I throws Prince Edward’s male companion out of a window was filmed using one of the upper towers at Trim Castle.
Some scenes that appear to be at the Tower of London—especially those involving Wallace’s imprisonment and trial—were shot at Trim Castle, using different angles and lighting to stand in for various locations.
Parts of the scene where Wallace is betrayed by the nobles and captured were also filmed at Trim, with the castle’s stone walls providing a strong medieval ambiance.
There are several legends and historical stories associated with Trim Castle, blending fact and folklore...
One of the most enduring legends is that of the Red Lady, said to haunt the castle ruins.
She’s often described as a tall woman in a long crimson gown, gliding silently through the castle ruins or seen standing at one of the high windows.
Some say she was a Norman noblewoman imprisoned or betrayed during a power struggle.
Others claim she was the lover or wife of a soldier killed in one of the many sieges of the castle, left to mourn him endlessly.
A more tragic version tells of a young woman who leapt to her death from the castle tower after a forbidden romance ended in betrayal.
Another legend is that of the death of Hugh de Lacy ...
Hugh de Lacy, a Norman lord granted the Lordship of Meath by King Henry II, began constructing Trim Castle in 1173. Known as a powerful and often ruthless ruler, de Lacy was expanding his influence when he was assassinated in 1186.
The common tale is that while inspecting construction at Durrow, one of his frontier fortifications, he was decapitated by an Irishman pretending to be a worker. The motive was said to be revenge for de Lacy’s seizure of Irish lands and his imposition of Norman rule.
His death created a power vacuum, and it’s said that the Irish rejoiced, while the Normans panicked. De Lacy was buried at St. Thomas's Abbey in Dublin, but his legacy—Trim Castle—remains.
Secret Tunnels are rumored to be hidden beneath Trim Castle ...
Trim Castle’s enormous size and strategic importance have long fueled speculation about secret underground tunnels.
These tunnels supposedly led to the Boyne River, offering a means of escape during siege.
Connected to St. Mary’s Abbey or the Yellow Steeple, acting as hidden communication or supply routes.
And may have been used to store weapons or treasure, especially during turbulent periods.
While no fully verified tunnel system has been excavated, archaeological surveys have revealed voids and collapsed shafts beneath the castle grounds—fueling the mystery.
Locals sometimes warn kids not to explore too far, as the tunnels go down into the earth and never come back up.
During the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s, Trim Castle was the scene of sieges and military occupation.
One clever legend tells of a small band of defenders who outsmarted a much larger enemy force.
Knowing they were outnumbered, they dressed up mannequins or scarecrows in armor and placed them on the battlements, giving the illusion of a fully staffed defense.
This psychological bluff reportedly caused the attackers to hesitate, allowing time for reinforcements to arrive or for the defenders to sneak away under cover of night.
While there’s no written record of this specific tactic at Trim, similar ruses were used historically, so the tale—though perhaps exaggerated—might contain a grain of truth.
Trim was an important medieval frontier town during the Norman conquest of Ireland.
After the Normans arrived in the late 12th century, it quickly became the administrative and ecclesiastical heart of the region.
Hugh de Lacy, a key Norman lord, began construction of Trim Castle around 1173 to secure control over the area. The town soon developed around the castle, with walls, gates, and a bustling economy centered on trade, agriculture, and governance.
Trim was also a major religious center in the Middle Ages. St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a short walk from the castle, stands on a site where St. Patrick himself is believed to have preached.
The town was once home to multiple monasteries, abbeys, and friaries, including the now-ruined Augustinian Abbey of St. Mary, established in the 12th century.
The Yellow Steeple, a striking ruined bell tower near the River Boyne, is one of the last remnants of this abbey and a well-known Trim landmark.
In the 14th century, Trim was a center of learning and legal activity. The famous "Book of Howth" and other important documents were kept or produced in monastic scriptoriums nearby.
The town’s early importance also extended to the Irish Parliament, which occasionally met in Trim during turbulent periods.
The River Boyne is the lifeblood of Trim—shaping its history, economy, and legends for over 800 years.
Flowing gently past the towering walls of Trim Castle, the river provided a natural defense and vital trade route for the medieval town.
Monks, merchants, and Norman lords alike relied on the Boyne for transport, fishing, and fresh water.
Today, the Boyne is a popular spot for kayaking, fishing, and riverside walks, especially in scenic towns like Trim and Slane.
In Trim, the river runs alongside Trim Castle, adding to the town’s tranquil charm and providing reflections of the medieval walls and towers.
The Boyne is steeped in Irish mythology. According to legend, the river was created when Boann, a goddess and wife of Nechtan, approached the forbidden Well of Segais.
As she circled the well against her husband's orders, the waters rose and chased her to the sea, forming the River Boyne.
The river was also sacred to the Tuatha Dé Danann, Ireland’s mythical race of gods and heroes.
It's often associated with wisdom, inspiration, and poetic knowledge.
Son of Hugh de Lacy, Walter inherited Trim and continued fortifying the castle and town.
He was a major landholder and political player in Ireland and England during the early 13th century.
Under his leadership, Trim became one of the most important Anglo-Norman settlements in Ireland.
While not a resident, St. Patrick is strongly associated with Trim.
According to tradition, he founded a church in the area in the 5th century, where St. Patrick’s Cathedral now stands.
Trim was chosen as a meeting place for the Irish Parliament during the late Middle Ages.
In the 15th century, especially under the Lord Deputyship of the Duke of York (father of Edward IV), the town played a temporary political role as tensions grew between English and Irish factions.
Trim is still an active judicial center today.
The Trim Courthouse, located just off the main street, continues to serve as a venue for District and Circuit Court sittings.
It's part of Ireland’s modern judicial system but also reflects Trim’s long legal heritage, which dates back to the medieval period, when the town served as a hub of Anglo-Norman administration.
Trim’s status as a judicial town is rooted in its history as a center of English common law in Ireland, especially during the time when the Irish Parliament occasionally met there.
Trim castle has a central keep, curtain wall, moat, barbican gate, chapel and great hall
The central keep is a massive 3-story cruciform shaped tower.
It is constructed of limestone.
Featuring 19 corners and multiple defensive towers.
The moat, originally surrounded by a deep ditch and palisade
The barbican gate is a fortified gatehouse that was added later for protection
The chapel was built into the castle grounds
The great hall was a later addition used for feasting, legal matters and receiving guests.
The castle was attacked and repaired multiple times during the 13th–16th centuries
The castle fell into disuse by the 17th century
Underwent conservation in the 1990s and was opened to the public by the Office of Public Works (OPW)
The castle overlooks a serene bend in the River Boyne, which historically provided water, transport, and defense.
The river winds through lush green fields and has ties to major Irish myths and historical battles.
Near the castle are the ruins of a medieval Augustinian abbey, known as St. Mary’s Abbey, where “The Yellow Steeple” still stands tall.
Across the town, you’ll also spot St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland, thought to be built on the site of a church founded by St. Patrick himself.
You can see the historic layout of Trim with its narrow medieval streets, stone bridges, and Georgian-era houses.
The town still retains much of its heritage feel, with remnants of old town walls and towers.
From above, the cruciform shape of the keep becomes visible, along with the outer curtain wall, D-shaped towers, and barbican gate.
These views offer insight into the military design and how the Normans controlled the surrounding area.
On a clear day, the Boyne Valley stretches out in all directions—this region is known as the cradle of Irish civilization.
You may catch glimpses of nearby historical sites like Newtown Abbey or Bective Abbey in the distance.
Standing atop Trim Castle connects you directly with the Norman conquest, the evolution of Irish towns, and the vast mythic past of the Boyne Valley—all in a single view.
Trim Castle stands as a powerful reminder of Ireland’s medieval past and the Norman influence that reshaped the island.
Its walls have witnessed centuries of conflict, governance, and legend, anchoring the town of Trim in the heart of Irish history.

Maynooth Castle

In the afternoon, we visited Maynooth Castle, a smaller but historically significant site. Once the seat of the powerful Fitzgerald family, the castle has a more compact footprint, but the remaining tower and gatehouse are still impressive. The visitor center inside gave us helpful context about the family’s influence and the castle’s role in Irish politics and uprisings. Though quieter and less grand than Trim, Maynooth had its own charm — a more personal and reflective visit that balanced the intensity of the morning’s fortress.

Maynooth Castle, once home to the powerful FitzGerald family, played a key role in Ireland’s turbulent history. These quiet ruins once echoed with ambition, betrayal, and rebellion. In the captions below, the stones speak of noble rise and violent fall — a legacy carved deep into Maynooth’s heart.
Founded: Around 1203 by Gerald FitzMaurice, an ancestor of the powerful FitzGerald (or Geraldine) dynasty
Original Structure: A stone keep and defensive walls were built to secure the Norman stronghold in Leinster
The castle became the principal residence of the Earls of Kildare, one of the most powerful Anglo-Norman families in Ireland
Significance: Served not just as a residence but as a symbol of FitzGerald power and their semi-independent rule in Ireland
In 1534, the castle was the site of the famous “Silken Thomas Rebellion”, when Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare, revolted against English rule
The rebellion was triggered by rumors that Thomas’s father had been executed in London
The revolt failed, and Maynooth Castle was besieged and captured by English forces in 1535
The defenders were executed, and Thomas himself was later captured and hanged at Tyburn in London
After the rebellion, the castle fell into decline and was never fully restored to its former power
Visitors can explore the restored gatehouse, portions of the curtain wall, and interpretive displays that tell the story of the FitzGeralds and the rebellion
It stands at the edge of the modern university campus, blending medieval heritage with the academic life of Maynooth
The heart of the original structure is a massive stone keep, built in the early 13th century.
It was likely four to five stories tall, with thick limestone walls and narrow defensive windows.
The keep served both residential and defensive purposes—housing the FitzGerald family and their garrison.
The keep was surrounded by a curtain wall, creating a walled inner courtyard (bailey).
These high stone walls enclosed various domestic and utility buildings, such as kitchens, workshops, and stables.
The main entrance was through a fortified gatehouse, some of which still survives today.
The current south-facing gatehouse was restored and now features interpretive displays and exhibitions.
Defensive features likely included a portcullis, murder holes, and arrow slits.
The walls were originally reinforced by corner towers and topped with crenellations, allowing archers to defend the perimeter.
Some fragments of these fortifications remain, giving insight into the castle’s strong defensive capabilities.
After the 1535 siege, much of the castle was damaged or dismantled by English forces.
The upper floors of the keep were lost, and the complex fell into disrepair over the centuries.
What remains today is mostly the lower levels of the keep and parts of the curtain wall, but enough survives to illustrate its scale and significance.
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