New interpretive centre planned for old town hall

A MAJOR new interpretive centre for Trim Castle is on the cards with the development of the facility in the old town hall included the National Development Plan announced last week.

The plan stated all the necessary project development would be undertaken “to transform Trim Market House to a visitor centre for Trim.”

The building, which served as the town hall for Trim until 2001 is currently used as a tourist information centre.

The new interpretive centre is expected to serve as the main entrance to Trim Castle when complete.

A spokesperson for Meath County Council said the Town Hall project is currently at design stage and funding has been awarded to bring the proposal through the planning stage.

“If planning is granted, a further application will be made for conservation works, turning the building into an Interpretative Centre for the Castle.”

She said the planning process was likely to commence in the first or second quarters of next year.

Cllr Noel French said that in the late 1990s, it was first mooted that the Office of Public Works (OPW) take over the building and convert it into an interpretative centre for the castle.

“The building backs onto the castle and could be used as the main entrance to the site.

“The town hall closed in 2001 and we thought the work might take place then, but it didn't and then the economic collapse came,” he recalled.

Cllr French pointed out that in the early 90s interpretive facilities were provided in Mill Street, but at the time it was very much off the tourist path.

“Boyne Valley Tourism currently use the Town Hall as a tourist information point,” he said.

“The OPW are working on plans at the moment, but they were delayed by Covid.

“The interpretive centre would be a major bonus to Trim. We have been marketing Trim as a tourist destination for the past 50 years and we were having 100,000 visitors to the castle every year, up until Covid.

“They were the best type of visitor – they came in small groups or singly, which meant they could stay in the town as long as they liked, unlike those who arrive on buses and leave again as soon as they've left the castle.”

The town hall was a former market house built in 1850, which was later used as the Town Hall and base for Trim Urban District and later, Town Councils.

It was burned by the Black and Tans in the 1920s and remodelled subsequently.

In the 1950s it was a well known spot for music and dancing and most of Ireland’s best known showbands played there in the era of ballroom dancing.

It was also home to Trim Drama Group and Trim Musical Society until its sudden closure in September 2011.

It served as a courthouse for Trim during the refurbishment of the court house.