Editing Trim Castle (section)

===De Lacy===
The land area of Meath was owned by the church but was granted to [[Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath|Hugh de Lacy]] in 1172 by [[Henry II of England]] as one of the new administrative areas.<ref>'Trim Castle', in R. Butler, ''Some Notices of the Castle and of the Ecclesiastical Buildings of Trim, led from various authorities'' (Hodges, Smith & Co., Dublin 1861), pp. 9-134, at [https://archive.org/stream/somenoticesofcas00butl#page/12 pp. 13-14] and [https://archive.org/stream/somenoticesofcas00butl#page/238 pp. 238-39] (Internet Archive).</ref> De Lacy built a huge ringwork castle defended by a stout double palisade and external ditch on top of the hill. There may also have been further defences around the cliffs fringing the high ground. Part of a stone footed timber gatehouse lies beneath the present stone gate at the west side of the castle.

[[File:A Moment of Past.jpg|left|thumb|249x249px|Trim Castle at night.]]
The site was chosen because it is on raised ground, overlooking a fording point on the [[River Boyne]]. The area was an important early medieval ecclesiastical and royal site that was navigable in [[Middle Ages|medieval times]] by boat up the River Boyne, about 25 miles from the [[Irish Sea]]. Trim Castle is referred to in the [[Normans|Norman]] poem ''[[The Song of Dermot and the Earl]]''.

De Lacy left Ireland entrusting the castle to [[Hugh Tyrrel]], baron of [[Castleknock]], one of his chief lieutenants. The ringwork was attacked and burnt by forces of the [[Gaels|Gaelic]] [[High King of Ireland]], [[Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair]]; Tyrrel, having appealed in vain for help, was forced to flee. Ua Conchobair soon withdrew and De Lacy, or [[Raymond FitzGerald]], immediately repaired or rebuilt the castle in 1173. After Hugh's death in 1186 his son [[Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath|Walter de Lacy]] succeeded as Lord of Meath.<ref>Butler, ''Some Notices'', pp. 14-17.</ref> He continued rebuilding and the castle was completed in the 1220s, most likely in 1224. The year when construction was completed was considered to be 1220 by historians in the 19th century but that is now in dispute.<ref>[http://www.meathheritage.com/index.php/archives/item/me01634-manorland-1st-division-castle-anglo-norman-masonry-castle ME01634 MANORLAND (1ST DIVISION) TRIM CASTLE]</ref>