Trim Castle

Trim castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. This castle is also the largest standing Norman castle in all of Europe. The construction for this castle occurred in three stages and was built over a thirty year period.

The design of the castle is distinct. Trim castle incorporates massive towers in the middle of each face on the square block. The towers' walls are significantly thinner than the square block. This was likely for additional rooms and not for protection purposes.

Trim was the capital of County Meath during the Middle-Ages. It was also one of the primary administrative centers of the English Pale. The castle received historical significance when the Irish Parliament sat there on several occasions. Most notably in 1465, when Parliament passed a law that authorized the beheading of robbers. During this period, robbery was a severe offence. In some cases, as a warning, the heads of those executed were placed as spikes.