So, for the final part of my trip to Ireland I was hoping to visit the townland of Scurlogstown in County Meath. My ancestor William de Scurlog received some land grants in County Meath where he built a castle in 1180. A town was then formed near the castle and was called Scurlogstown. Of course, I would love to see a town that was named after my ancestor and my dream would have been to visit a castle built by or named after an ancestor.
There were a few problems with this dream, however -- even in the 1800's only ruins remained of this castle. Then years or so ago, some ruins were uncovered when they were building a business park in Scurlogstown. That would be my luck -- a business park rather than a castle! So, I didn't get to see the castle or even a sign with the name Scurlogstown.
We did end up 3.5 kilometers east of there at the location of the Trim Castle. I was getting to the point that any castle would have to do. However, this castle is very special too. Trim Castle is the largest Norman castle in Ireland and is located on the south bank of the River Boyne in Trim. This castle was built by Hugh de Lacy (who my ancestor William de Scurlog accompanied to Ireland) so perhaps it is practically like family!
I did try to persuade my family (husband, son and daughter) who had accompanied me to start a coup and capture Trim Castle as our own family castle but alas, I had no followers!
Reference: "The Sherlocks of Ireland" by Arian E. Collins, c 1993, San Diego, California
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