A Guide To Trim In Meath: An Ancient Town With Plenty To Offer

If you’re debating staying in Trim in Meath, you’ve landed in the right place.

Although arguably best known for its impressive Trim Castle, this is far from a one horse town, and there’s plenty of things to do in Trim that’ll keep you busy.

There’s also some fine restaurants in Trim for a bite and a handful of brilliant, old-school pubs for a post-adventure pint or 3.

In the guide below, you’ll discover everything from things to do in this historic town to where to eat, sleep and drink.

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Trim in Meath

Although a visit to Trim is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Trim is a little town situated in the heart of County Meath, right on the banks of the River Boyne. It’s a 20-minute drive from Navan, a 30-minute drive from Slane, a 45-minute drive from both Drogheda and Mullingar and a 40-minute drive from Dublin Airport.

2. A great base to explore Meath

Trim is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to explore the best places to visit in Meath. This corner of Ireland is full of marvellous castles, spectacular abbeys and ancient archaeological sites, like those in the Bru na Boinne complex.

3. Home to the famous Trim Castle

Trim is home to one of the most beautiful castles in Ireland – Trim Castle. Situated in the middle of the town, in front of the bustling River Boyne, the ruins of the castle can still be admired to this day, over 800 years after its completion.

A speedy history of Trim

Despite having a population of just 9,000, Trim is one of the most charming towns in Ireland to saunter around.

Much of this charm stems from the area’s rich history, with a plethora of relics from hundreds of years ago still visible to this day.

Early days

The first record of Trim’s existence dates back to the 5th century when a monastery was built in the town. It’s believed that St. Patrick founded the monastery and left it in the care of Lommán, Trim’s patron Saint.

During the 12th century, the town was conquered by the English who soon built a castle on its land. However, the town was recaptured by the Irish and the castle was destroyed.

Our Lady of Trim

At the beginning of the 14th century, Trim became a major pilgrimage site, and people would travel from all over Ireland to visit St. Mary’s Abbey.

Why?! Well, it was here that “Our Lady of Trim”, a wooden statue that was said to perform miracles, was kept.

Things to do in Trim (and nearby)

So, we have a dedicated guide on the best things to do in Trim, but I’ll give you a quick overview of our favourite attractions.

Below, you’ll find everything from the Trim Castle tour and the towns walking trails to Ireland’s oldest bridge and more.

1. Tackle the Trim Castle River Walk

There’s a pleasant walk that kicks-off at the entrance of Trim Castle. Known as the ‘Trim Castle River Walk’, it starts at the castle and stretches out to the very old town of Newtown.

The Trim Castle river walk takes only 30 minutes or so, and it will take you to some of the area’s oldest structures, including St Mary’s Abbey and Sheep Gate.

Follow the interpretative panels and learn about life in Trim in the Middle Ages before visiting its renowned castle. 

2. Then take a tour of Trim Castle

Trim Castle is one of the most popular places to visit in Meath for good reason, and it’s the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland.

The castle is also known as ‘King John’s Castle’, even though when King John visited Trim he preferred to stay in his tent rather than spending his time in the castle itself…

Trim Castle is particularly interesting for the unique design of its central three-story keep. Its keep has, in fact, a cruciform shape and is unique in its design.

A visit to Trim Castle is quite affordable with adult tickets costing €5 and a child or student entry costing €3.

3. See the oldest bridge in Ireland

For many visitors, the bridge in the photo above goes unnoticed as, upon first glance, it looks like a bridge that you’d encounter in many towns in Ireland.

This is, however, the oldest unaltered bridge in Ireland. It was built around 1330 and it hasn’t been modified since its completion.

Despite being so old, the bridge is still very stable, so you can ramble along it or admire It from afar.

4. Saunter around the outside of St. Mary’s Abbey

You’ll find the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey a stone’s throw from Trim Castle. It was here that, according to legend, St Patrick founded a church on the same site.

However, it was destroyed twice, first in 1108 and then in 1127. In the 12th century, the church was then rebuilt as an Augustinian Abbey and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Today, the most prominent remains of St Mary’s Abbey is its 40 meters tall Yellow Steeple. This tower functioned as the abbey’s bell tower and the ruins of its spiral staircase can still be seen to this day.

5. Visit Trim Cathedral

You’ll find Trim Cathedral a short walk from St. Mary’s Abbey (it’s also known by many as St. Patrick’s Cathedral).

The present church was built in the 19th century over the ruins of a much older church dating back to the 15th century.

The only structure remaining from the ancient church is the tower on the west side. If you’re visiting Trim Cathedral, make sure to look at the stained glass that can be found on the west window.

This is the first-ever stained glass designed by artist Edward Burne-Jones a celebrated British designer and one of the founding partners of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. 

Restaurants in Trim

Although we go into the town’s food scene in depth in our Trim restaurants guide, you’ll find the best of the bunch (in our opinion!) below.

1. StockHouse Restaurant

Stockhouse Restaurant, which is less than a 5-minute walk from the castle, is a favourite amongst locals and tourists alike. They offer a wide range of steaks and burgers along with a selection of delicious vegetarian dishes such as Caribbean vegetable curry and vegetable arrabiata.

2. Khan Spices Indian Restaurant

Khan Spices Indian Restaurant is another solid spot for a bite-to-eat, and it has won the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for five years in a row! Here, you’ll find everything from Vegetable Biryani and Chicken Tikka Masala to King Prawn Balti and more.

3. Rosemary Bistro

Rosemary Bistro is another excellent option, especially for breakfast and lunch! This place also has a nice outdoor space where, with a bit of luck, you’ll be able to munch away while enjoying a bit of sun.

Pubs in Trim

If you’ve worked up a thirst after exploring Trim, you’re in luck – there are several mighty pubs in the town to tuck yourself away in for an evening.

1. Marcie Regan’s Pub

You’ll find Marcie Regan’s Pub on the outskirts of the town where, the story goes, they have Ireland’s second oldest publicans license, after Sean’s Bar in Athlone). This is a glorious, old-school pub with exposed brick walls and, during the winter, a roaring fire.

2. Lynchs

Situated on Emmet Street, Lynchs is another no-fuss pub that has racked up rave reviews online. Expect a decent pint and the kind of service you find less and less in pubs nowadays.

3. Sally Rogers Bar

You’ll find Sally Rogers Bar on Bridge Street, where it proudly rocks a big, bright exterior. Inside, you’ll find a cosy setting with plenty of seats. If you arrive on a day when the weather’s fine, aim for the outdoor terrace.

Hotels in Trim

There are handful of great hotels in Trim, from the excellent Trim Castle Hotel to the sometimes overlooked Old Rectory.

Note: if you book a hotel through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. Trim Castle Hotel

Trim Castle Hotel is one of the more popular hotels in Meath. It’s home to 68 comfy bedrooms all decorated with a fresh and modern design. Some of the rooms also feature windows facing Trim Castle, too.

2. The Old Rectory Trim

Situated in the north of Trim on St. Loman’s Street, The Old Rectory Trim is a luxurious bed and breakfast where you can kick-back after a long day. The rooms are decorated with vintage furniture and have Waterford crystal chandeliers hanging from their ceilings.

3. Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort

The Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort is situated just outside Trim. Here, you will be able to choose from five different types of accommodation. You’ll also have access to a 17-meter swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a steam room and two fitness studios as well as the hotel Spa.

FAQs about visiting Trim in Meath

Since mentioning the area in a guide to Meath that we published several years ago, we’ve had hundreds of emails asking various things about Trim.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.