Trim, County Meath
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- For other meanings, see trim (disambiguation).
| Trim Baile Átha Troim |
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| Location | ||
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| Irish Grid Reference N800567 |
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Leinster | |
| County: | County Meath | |
| Elevation: | 61 m (200 ft) | |
| Population (2006) - Town: - Rural: |
6,447 5,447 |
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Trim (Baile Átha Troim in Irish), is the traditional county town of County Meath in Ireland, although Meath's administrative centre is now located in Navan. The town and its immediate environs were recorded in the census of 2002 as having a population of 5,894. This figure does not account for several thousands living outside the town council area. It is estimated that the town will reach a population of over 20,000 by 2015, this growth due to migration of young professionals and families working in Dublin city centre and suburbs. The closest neighbouring towns and villages are:
- Athboy (about 11kms northwest)
- Enfield (~15kms south)
- Navan (9kms northeast)
- Dunshaughlin (15kms east)
Each of these South Meath towns have strong cultural, historical and social ties, and an interdependency in terms of commerce, recreation and leisure, and administration.
Situated 60 m above sea level on the River Boyne, Trim was one of the most important English settlements in the Middle Ages. In the 15th century the Anglo-Norman parliament met in Trim. The Duke of Wellington was born nearby; a large column remains to this day near the centre of the town as a monument. Other attractions in the town include Butterstream Gardens visited by Prince Charles in the mid nineties.
The Town Hall is also reputed as one of Thin Lizzy's very first concert venues, and has seen U2 and several other bands of worldwide influence play there over the years
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[edit] Trim Car Show
An annual classic car show takes place in Trim every July, Trim Veteran and Vintage Rally has been running since 1985. It started in a small yard on Loman Street with just 23 cars. The founder, Norman Pratt, determined to expand the show, approached the Roundtree family who very kindly allowed The Porchfields to be used on the day. It has grown each year since then and there are now in excess of 500 cars and motor cycles on show.
[edit] Trim Haymaking Festival
Trim Haymaking Festival is another festival held in the town every mid-June. The Porchfields, an amenity space rich in historic value, are home to a fair, market, and cultural displays.
[edit] Trim Show
An Agricultural Show takes place in the show in the first week of September each year, named "The Trim Show", and features trained dogs, as well as horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and goats.
[edit] Town History
The town is home to Western Europe's largest Norman castle, Trim Castle (or King John's Castle) which was built in the late 12th century following the Norman invasion of Ireland's eastern seaboard. Once destined to be the country's capital, the town has also occupied a role as one of the outposts of the Pale and has seen considerable growth in recent years with a growing purpose as a tourist centre and a town of vibrant businesses and cheerful locals.
[edit] International Reputation
Longwave radio station Atlantic 252's broadcasting station was situated in Trim throughout the 1990's. The station's former buildings are now home to Trim Town Council and Trim Area Council, two of the administrative bodies over the County of Meath. The Norman Castle around which the town has evolved was the centerpiece for Mel Gibson's Braveheart, recorded in 1994.
[edit] Gaelic Athletic Association
The town is home to Meath footballers as Jack Quinn and Darren Fay, and in recent times Brendan Murphy has emerged as the county team's star goalkeeper. Trim GAA have won the county football championship on one occasion, in 1962.
[edit] Trim Movie History
Trim Castle is a famous historical site and was used as a backdrop in the making of the film Braveheart. Trim was also the setting for the first full-length Irish martial arts movie Fatal Deviation. The low-budget production,made in 1998 starring James Bennett, is the story of a disenfranchised young man trying to rebuild his life after returning from reform school only to be harassed by a gang of local drug dealers. The drug dealers kidnap his girlfriend in order to force him to lose the Bealtaine Fighting Festival so they can keep their reputation and control of Trim. Fatal Deviation also marks the acting debut of Mikey Graham from prolific Irish boyband Boyzone as Mikey Oprano.
[edit] Famous Sons
Famous individuals with ties to the town include...
[edit] See also
- List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
- List of Irish Towns with a Market House
- Wellington Monument - other monuments to Wellington
