Athboy, 8 m. W. of Trim, is a tolerable town with a good inn, where the tourist may fix his head-quarters whilst visiting the various objects in the vicinity, particularly a farm of near 6000 Irish acres, kept in hand by Sir Benjamin Chapman; also Ballinlough, the well wooded seat of Sir Hugh O'Reilly. From hence, a road completely shaded with trees leads to the seat of Mr. Tigh, at Mitchelstown, near which are the grounds of Mr. Wood at Rosmead: indeed the whole neighbourhood is well planted and populous.
Duleek, about 15 m. E. from Trim; once a famous episcopal city, now a paltry country town, but exhibiting in its ruin traces of former celebrity; particularly in the remains of the Abbey with its majestic tower, the first stone Ch. in Ireland. Grenogue, 4 m. S., has ruins of an ancient Ch. Gormanstown, 6 m. E., ancient seat of Lord G. Invercolpa, at the mouth of the Boyne, has some Abbey ruins. Kilbrue is an elegant mansion, 5 m. S.; near it ruins of Macetown Castle. Platten, 2 m., handsome seat built on the ruins of one of the largest Castles on the island. Ratoath, 10 m. S., a poor village. See Ch. erected on ruins of an ancient Abbey; also a lofty and conspicuous mount, celebrated for meetings of Parliaments in feudal times. St. John's Well, in this vicinity, is described by Mr. Wakefield as a penitentiary station for pilgrims for five days in the latter end of June.
Kells, 12 m. N.W. of Trim, being pleasantly seated on the Blackwater, forms a good station for the western part of the county. See the Market-house on the site of an ancient Castle; also curious stone Cross, much decayed, but decorated very richly with figures of men, beasts, flowers, &c. Here is a remarkable round tower, 90 feet in height and 16 in diameter, with walls 3 feet in thickness. It is close to the Church, at an opposite corner of which, and detached, stands a square tower with a spire, the remains of an ancient edifice now destroyed. At the back of the town there is another small round tower; also a small stone building arched with flags, called Columkill's Cell, supposed to be the first Christian oratory erected here. The Ch. is modern; and in the cemetery a curious sculptured cross. See the noble mansion of the Marquis of Headfort in its vicinity, and its extensive grounds.
Navan, 7 m. N.E. of Trim, stands very pleasantly on the Boyne, and has a considerable trade. Its vicinity has much picturesque scenery for the pedestrian tourist. See the Tholsel; and the remains of several ancient tombs in the Abbey cemetery, adorned with sculpture. The beautiful episcopal palace of Ardbraccan, 2 m. W., displaying simplicity of design with accuracy of execution, is built of a remarkable limestone with a very fine grain, found in the immediate vicinity. The quarry is worth visiting. The limestone is capable of being worked into any form for building; is susceptible of a fine polish; and though white when it comes from the chisel, acquires a sober grayish tint after exposure to the air. Its strata are horizontal and of various degrees of thickness, from four inches to two feet; and columns have been raised and worked of 9 or 10 feet in length, and from 15 to 18 inches in diameter. A short distance from Navan, close to the village of Donoghmore, and standing on an eminence near the road leading to Slieve, is a round tower adorned with sculptures of the Crucifixion over the doorway. It is not in very good preservation; and the ancient Ch. attached to it is totally in ruins. Dunmore Castle is a building of very early date, but almost new built as a castellated house at the close of the 17th century, and now presenting a curious specimen of those turbulent times in its lofty towers and heavy walls, diversified only by a few windows close to the battlements. In the vicinity of Dunshaghlen see Dunsany and Killeen Castles, mansions of Lords Dunsany and Fingal. Near the latter examine the Ch. and sepulchral antiquities. The tourist who is partial to extensive prospects, may visit the Hill of Screen, on whose summit is a Ch., presenting from the battlements of the ruined belfry a most delightful view over a richly cultivated country. The edifice itself is in a state of dilapidation, except part of a chapel fitted up for divine service; but the antiquary may amuse himself with examining an ecclesiastical figure in relief over the southern entrance; also some crosses and curious old tombstones scattered over the surrounding cemetery. At New Grange is a very curious specimen of early Celtic antiquity, consisting of a most extensive barrow composed of stones and earth, formed with infinite labour and exhibiting considerable artificial dexterity. In this there is a cave which well deserves the notice of the antiquary: from the horizontal floor of this cave to the summit of the mount, is about 70 feet; the circumference at top is 300; and the base covers two acres of ground; the whole founded on an amazing collection of stones, and covered with gravel and earth. Slane, about 6 m. N.E., on the N. side of the Boyne, presents several curious ruins to the lover of antiquity. Some remains of an Abbey or College; lofty tower with Gothic windows. Here is also a Hermitage, said to be that of St. Ere, consecrated by St. Patrick in 512. Near this, on the banks of the Boyne, see the magnificent seats of Earl Conyngham (Slane Castle), and Mr. Lambert (Beaupark), whose grounds have the appearance of one domain, being separated only by the river running between romantic rocks, the summits and sides of which are partly adorned with wood; and the union of this scenery, combined with the dressed lawns of these two seats, renders the whole prospect highly interesting. Tarah has long been celebrated in Irish history as the place of coronation of the Irish monarchs. Here are some remnants of Danish fortifications, and the ruins of a Ch., sombre and picturesque. See ruins at Trevet.
Trim, 22 m. N.W. of Dublin, is the assize town.—See picturesque ruins of an ancient Castle, celebrated through all the periods of Irish history; once the property of Mortimer Earl of March: situation romantic; many ruins of Monasteries. The ruins of Bective Abbey stand on a high bank of the Boyne, about 3 m. E. of Trim. Here the tourist may contemplate the domestic range of buildings connected with the Ch.; and, as the walls and division of the apartments are still pretty entire, may form a very good idea of monastic manners. The S. side a range of 12 arches, supported by clustered pillars, opens into a gallery which also runs along the W. From this gallery is an opening into a range of cells, gloomy and inconvenient, and seemingly fitter for the dead than the living. The whole place is indeed sombre in the extreme, with its Gothic doors and windows in several places, and projecting towers and turrets. The outline is picturesque, and deserves a visit. Clonard has some curious monuments in its Abbey ruins. At Newton are the remains of the Ch., belonging to a monastery founded in the 13th century; though much shattered, yet they have once been august, and are now sweetly enveloped in ivy. Tradition attributes (falsely) an ancient tomb to a daughter of King John. On the road from Trim to Mitchelstown see the ruins of a square fortress with circular turrets at the angles, called Scurlack's Town Castle, seated on the borders of the river Boyne, which is here a silent stream full of weeds and rushes.
