This formidable structure consists of a steep-sided mound rising nearly 10 metres high, with a summit measuring 9 metres across. The mound is encircled by a defensive ditch, or fosse, that drops 2.1 metres deep, creating a significant obstacle for any would-be attackers attempting to scale the earthwork.

What makes Clonmore Moat particularly interesting is its separate bailey, a trapezoidal enclosure measuring 29 metres by 22 metres that sits unattached to the main mound. This bailey is protected by an earthen bank standing 3 metres high on all sides except the western approach. For additional defence, the eastern side features an external fosse that’s 3 metres deep and 4 metres wide, providing an extra layer of security to this part of the fortification.

These types of earthworks, commonly called mottes or moated sites, were typically constructed during the Anglo-Norman period in Ireland, roughly from the late 12th to 14th centuries. They served as defensive strongholds and administrative centres, often topped with timber palisades or towers. The separation between the motte and bailey at Clonmore is somewhat unusual; typically these elements would be connected, suggesting this site may have had a specific defensive strategy or underwent modifications over time.