This Christmas I spent three days in Trim County Meath and it rained most of the time. On Wednesday the 27th it was so wet and stormy that it was impossible to take any photographs so I returned to Dublin ahead of schedule. As my Canon 5DIII performs very well in wet weather I decided to bring it with me instead of me rather than my Sony A7RIV or FX30. Another advantage it is fitted with a GPS unit.
Founded by the renowned Bishop Simon de Rochfort in 1202, the Priory was initially home to the Order of the Crutched Friars, a group of pious men dedicated to ministering to the sick and the poor. Over the centuries, the Priory evolved into a hub of spiritual and social activity, providing solace and support to the community.
The Priory’s architecture bears witness to its diverse history. The imposing three-story tower, dating back to the 15th century, hints at its role as a defensive structure. The graceful nave and chancel of the church, with their striking three-light window, speak to the Priory’s sacred purpose.
In 1540, the Priory’s fortunes took a dramatic turn during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, a series of events that scattered monastic communities across Ireland. The Priory’s buildings were commandeered for various purposes, including a residence and a hospital.
Despite its turbulent past, the Priory of St. John the Baptist remains a captivating sight. Today, its ruins stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of Trim and its enduring connection to Ireland’s rich history.
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St. Mary’s Abbey was home to “Our Lady of Trim”, a wooden statue reported to work miracles. The statue made Trim a major pilgrimage site from at least 1397. During the Reformation, the statue was burned and Henry VIII dissolved the abbey. The abbey’s bell tower, the “Yellow Steeple”, is the primary remnant of St. Mary’s.
The Maudlin Cemetery which was the site of the Leper Hospital of Mary Magdalene, and later a cemetery which was used as a burial ground for the poor who died in the workhouse.
I have visited the Trim many times as my mother’s immediate family live in Trim or are from the area but I was unaware of this old cemetery until I came across it today.
In 1892 Lord Walter Fitzgerald produced an account of this cemetery and here is a short extract: “This burial ground contains the old church of St. Mary Magdalen of which the chancel arch still survives. It is situated close to the town of Trim on its south side and seems now to be only used as a burial place for paupers who die in the trim workhouse nearby. Only two tombstones seem to have survived and they are situated to the east of the church ruins”.
I think that there are a few Maudlin Cemeteries in Ireland but I know, without doubt, that there is one in Naas which I have yet to photograph. The name is archaically spelled Maudlings; derives from Mary Magdalene, often depicted in art as mourning for Jesus after his crucifixion, and thus associated with burial grounds (cf. maudlin).
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