trim castle

Trim Castle was founded by Hugh De Lacy, who was granted the kingdom of Meath. In 1173 the work commenced on the castle. Because Trim was close to the Pale, yet outside it, it was embroiled between the native Irish and the settlers. De Lacy left the castle in the hands of Hugh Tyrell, but Roderick O'Connor, King of Connaught marched in to Trim village. Tyrell set fire to the castle rather than have O'Connor destroy it.

The castle was eventually finished in 1220, by the Peppard Brothers. It passed on to De Lacy's daughter Matilda, who passed it to the Mortimer family. The castle did house two royal children, Prince Henry, later Henry V, and his brother Humphrey. But was chiefly unoccupied after their incarceration by Richard II. During the rebellion of Silken Thomas, it was repaired, but fell into ruins by 1599. It was used again briefly, by Lord Fennick and the Cromwellites, but was never used again after the English civil war.