Trim —County Meath

A renowned Heritage Town, Trim is an attractive little town on the banks of the River Boyne with a medieval heritage and buildings to match. The most impressive of these is Trim Castle; Ireland's largest Anglo Norman castle and the setting for the movie Braveheart. Across the river from the castle are the 15th-century ruins of Talbot Castle, and the 12th-century Augustinian Abbey of St Mary's. The 12th-century ruins of Bective Abbey lie halfway between Trim and Navan. Trim Castle was founded by Hugh de Lacy. Construction began in 1172 but the central tower, the keep, was not completed until the 1220s. In recent years, this splendid castle has undergone extensive conservation work and is now open to the public for the first time in decades.