Trim Castle

About the museum

Trim Castle on the River Boyne is the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy began it in the late twelfth century and he and his successors spent about thirty years building it. Its centrepiece is a huge three-storey keep with a twenty-sided, cross-shaped plan, protected by a ditch, a curtain wall and a water-filled moat.

The castle is often called King John's Castle, although King John is said to have preferred to stay in a tent across the river when he visited. In 1399 Richard II left the young Prince Hal, later Henry V, here as a prisoner. Today it is looked after by the Office of Public Works.

Today visitors can walk the castle grounds for free and join a guided tour of the keep, where modern walkways let them look down into the interior and view the thick walls from above. There is an exhibition on the ground floor of the keep. The castle is next to the heritage town of Trim, which has more medieval buildings than almost any other town in Ireland.

Highlights

• Largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland
• Guided tour of the three-storey keep
• Exhibition on the ground floor of the keep
• Free access to the castle grounds and walls

Permanent exhibition

• Trim Castle keep and exhibition – A guided tour of the keep and a ground-floor exhibition on the castle and its builders.

Operated by

Office of Public Works (OPW)

Admission & discounts

The prices are for the guided tour of the keep. The castle grounds are free to enter.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access for visitors with disabilities is very restricted. The keep is not accessible, and some of its stairs are steep and narrow, but there is limited access to the grounds, where information panels allow a self-guided visit.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The castle stands in the centre of Trim, about 12 km from the Hill of Tara.

Amenities & dining

Toilets. Card payments accepted. No picnics are allowed on the site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit