The trip to Trim, our 15th excursion did not go as we had planned, as heavy early morning rain forced us to abruptly reverse our schedule. But, with a lot of help and flexibility from all our volunteers, from the great people at Bective Mills, and from our indefatigable guide at Porchfields, Cynthia Simonet, our guests say they had a wonderful time.

So we started the day at Bective Mills, a café and family entertainment centre right beside the Boyne. Staff and volunteers rapidly prepared two sheltered spaces for workshops, and after introductions we split into two groups. Bective Mill House

The first workshop focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session evoked discussion around human rights violations, gender equality issues globally and climate change issues. The group was asked to share the key issues affecting the communities where they are from and a lively discussion was formed out of this activity. 

The second workshop was focused on Biodiversity and used art as the form of engagement to ensure that all members of the group could engage. The workshop used the materials developed as part of an Erasmus+ project called ACTION. This ensured that the workshop being delivered was of high quality, and there was also much laughter and enjoyment as people created images relating to their countries of origin. 

As the rain came and went, there were options for our younger guests to play football, or explore the riverside under supervision. Then Oliver organised a kind of train ride for children, pulling some colourful little carts behind a tractor up and down the meadow, and this proved very popular indeed.

So did his invitation to our guests of all ages to pick raspberries from his fruit garden, an activity everyone joined in with delight.

We then had lunch – a great selection of sandwiches and pastries for adults, and pizzas for kids – as the weather cleared. We then moved by bus to Newtown Trim, and Cynthia, a professional local guide, led us on a magical walk through historic medieval ruins and the rich summer flowers of the Porchfields area along the Boyne back towards the modern town.

She started the walk at the graveyard at Newtown, pointing out its unmarked famine graves and pre-Christian yew trees, leading us on into the old monastery of Newtown Abbey, founded by the Normans in 1206. We stood in the unroofed but impressive gothic cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, with its high lancet window spaces, and a remarkable tomb with the effigies of Lucas Dillon, a senior Elizabeth administrator, and his first wife Jane Bathe. 

She also drew our attention to the culinary plants introduced by the monks, and now considered part of our native flora, like the abundant alexanders.

Cynthia explained that the grandeur of the building originally sent a political message to the local community that the Normans were wealthy, skilled, and very powerful, and were here to stay.

We continued past kitchens and dining areas to an idyllic walk along a vast water-meadow beside the Boyne, with masses of white-and-yellow dog’s eye daises and mayweed on our right for most of the way. Cynthia pointed out that the rushes in the river are left uncut, because they provide habitat for breeding fish. 

Some of the children enjoyed making wreaths out of the daisies, and brought bundles of them home. We split into small groups along the way, making new friends as our surroundings stimulated relaxed conversation. 

We passed more historic medieval buildings, including the Sheep’s Gate, which had given access to the town from the Porchfields road, and finished at the Yellow Steeple, a fine tower which gets its name from its appearance at sunset, and another old abbey, St Mary’s. 

Across the river we could see the imposing Trim Castle, the largest Anglo Norman fortress in Ireland, which could justify a visit of several hours in itself. We look forward to returning there another day.

We are very grateful to our wonderful partners, Sonairte National Ecology Centre and Meath Partnership, for all their help and support, and to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for our invaluable grant under the Community Integration Fund

And many thanks to Kate Kavanagh for these lovely pics, and to Kierans Bus Hire for once again providing us with a great driver and great service.

Helen Shaw Mairead Devlin Doireann Ní Bhriain Andrew Leonard Muhammad Achour Trish Long Michelle Woodworth Kate Kavanagh Meath Partnership Sonairte Tian Yu Mike Finn Meath County Council Meath Chronicle