This nearly circular, flat-topped mound measures about 22 metres across at its base and rises between four and six metres high, with the summit spanning roughly 5.5 metres in diameter. What makes this site particularly intriguing is the faint outline of a crescent-shaped bailey extending approximately 26 metres from east to west, marked by subtle scarping on its western and northern edges. Between the mound and this possible bailey, keen observers might spot traces of what could be an old defensive ditch or fosse.

The summit holds its own mystery in the form of stone structure remains on the southeastern side. These ruins might date from a much later period than the original earthwork; specifically, they could be fortifications constructed when Colonel Bellingham’s regiment, part of William III’s army, controlled the strategic crossing at Mapastown bridge. This layering of different historical periods at a single site is fairly typical of Irish archaeological locations, where successive generations repurposed existing defensive positions for their own military needs.

First documented in the Archaeological Inventory of County Louth (1986) and later refined in the Archaeological Survey of County Louth (1991), this motte and bailey structure represents the kind of Norman fortification that dotted the Irish landscape following the Anglo-Norman invasion. Its position near both the river and church suggests it served as a local stronghold, controlling movement along the Glyde whilst maintaining proximity to the religious and social centre of the community.