Before Henry's return to England about the end of March 1172, Lacy was granted Meath by the service of fifty knights and with almost royal authority; he was also put in charge of Dublin Castle.

[3] Gerald of Wales also related the following legend of Féchín and Hugh de Lacy: " Chapter LII (Of the mill which no women enter) Lacy only escaped from Dublin with difficulty; he seems to have left the city in the charge of Richard de Clare by the king's orders, and to have commenced securing Meath by the construction of castles.

On 29 December 1172 he was at Canterbury, where, according to a story preserved by Giraldus, he reproved Archbishop Richard of Dover for his boastful language.

Next year he was fighting for King Henry in France and held Verneuil against Louis VII for a month; but at the end of that time, the town was forced to capitulate.

[citation needed] As governor of Ireland Lacy secured Leinster and Meath, building numerous castles, while leaving the Irish in possession of their lands.

The author of the Gesta Henrici, however, says that Lacy lost his favour with Henry in consequence of complaints of his injustice by the Irish.

Early in 1185, Henry sent his son John over to Ireland, who complained to his father that Lacy would not permit the Irish to pay tribute.

[1] In 1186 Hugh de Lacy was killed by Gilla-Gan-Mathiar O'Maidhaigh, while he was supervising the construction of a Motte castle at Durrow at the instigation of An tSionnach and O'Breen (O'Briain).

[1] Lacy was a benefactor of Llanthony Priory and also of many churches in Ireland, including the abbey of Trim.