Our B&B Guide to Local Sights...

Trim Castle is the largest and one of the most important Norman military constructions in Ireland. Work began on Trim Castle around 1172 and the building was completed with the central tower in the 1220s. The three acre enclosure is dominated by a 25 metre high stone keep and is mounted on a Norman motte.

There are three levels inside, the lowest one divided in two by a central wall. The principal outer wall is around 500 meters long and remains largely standing today. It dates from around 1250 and includes eight towers and the gatehouse. Just outside the central keep are the remains of an earlier wall. The site was protected by a ditch, a curtain wall and a moat. The curtain wall was protected by five D-shaped towers and entry to the castle was only through two of the gates. Within the castle was the great hall, a chapel and living quarters.

A draw-bridge was operated through the Dublingate while the Towngate had a porticullis to protect it as well as a 'murder hole'. Extensive conservation work has been done on the castle.

Newgrange is one of the best examples in Ireland and in Western Europe, of a type of monument known to archaeologists as a passage-grave or passage-tomb. It was constructed around 3200BC, according to the most reliable Carbon 14 dates available from archaeology. This makes it more than 600 years older than the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, and 1,000 years more ancient than Stonehenge.

In 1993, Newgrange and its sister sites Knowth and Dowth were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of their outstanding cultural legacy. On the Winter Solstice, the light of the rising sun enters the roofbox at Newgrange and penetrates the passage, shining onto the floor of the inner chamber. The sunbeam illuminates the chamber of Newgrange for just 17 minutes.




The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in gaeilge, was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland – 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. In ancient Irish religion and mythology Temair was the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was the entrance to the otherworld. Saint Patrick is said to have come to Tara to confront the ancient religion of the pagans at its most powerful site.

On a clear day it is claimed that features in half the counties of Ireland can be seen from atop Tara. In the distance to the northwest can be seen the brilliant white quartz front of Newgrange and further north lies the Hill of Slane, where according to legend St. Patrick lit his Pascal fire prior to his visit to Tara in 433 AD.

There are a large number of monuments and earthen structures on the Hill of Tara. The earliest settlement at the site was in the Neolithic, and the Mound of the Hostages was constructed in or around 2500BC. There are over thirty monuments which are visible, and probably as many again which have no visible remains on the surface but which have been detected using special non-intrusive archaeological techniques and aerial photography.

Apart from these sights. there are many other historical and scenic locations worth visiting while you are based in Navan. The town of Kells is nearby which has an excellent visitor centre with information on the world famous Book of Kells.

Also nearby in Oldcastle are The Loughcrew Megalithic Cairns. Mellifont Abbey, Monasterboice and the location of the Battle of the Boyne are only a short distance away also - so stay at Athlumney Manor where you will have a wealth of tourist attractions on your doorstep!

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