Castles / IE / Leinster
Trim Castle
Which definitions does it satisfy?
This dataset does not record whether something “is a castle”. It records a verdict against each named definition, with the reasoning that produced it.
| Definition | Verdict | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fortified residence | yes | The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland: a genuine fortified private residence of a lord, with curtain wall, towers, gatehouses meant to be held, and a great keep serving as the lordly residence. Meets both halves of the criterion without strain. |
| Enclosure fortification | no | The curtain wall serves a lordly castle rather than standing as the primary work of an undefended-lordship enclosure. |
| State fortification | no | Seigneurial rather than state construction, built by Hugh de Lacy as lord of Meath. |
| Palatial seat | no | No palatial phase; it decayed rather than being rebuilt as a residence. |
| Revival and folly | no | A genuine medieval build, not a post-defensive-era romantic one. |
| Popularly a castle | yes | A major visitor attraction operated and signposted as a castle by the Office of Public Works. |
Facts
| Tradition | european medieval |
|---|---|
| Location | Trim, Meath, Leinster, IE |
| Built | 1176–1224 |
| Condition | ruin |
| Confidence | high |
| First recorded | 2026-07-21 |
| Last updated | 2026-07-21 |
In the registers
Where this structure appears in official inventories. This is what turns an individual record into evidence about a count.
- Sites and Monuments Record — Archaeological Survey of Ireland —
ME036-048004-· Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
Location
Approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Notes
One of the 129 SMR records classed 'Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle' - the strictest of Ireland's three answers to how many castles it has. SMR reference CORRECTED on 2026-07-21 from a hand-entered ME036-021 to the register's actual ME036-048004-, found when the bulk import created a second record for this castle under its register townland (Manorland). The founding caveat that hand-entered register refs needed verification was justified: this one was wrong.
Sources
- Archaeological Survey of Ireland - open data — National Monuments Service, 2026-07-21
- Trim Castle — Wikipedia
Record file · dataset licensed CC BY 4.0 — see provenance.