Croisabearra, Carheeny, Co. Galway
In the gently rolling farmland of Croisabearra, Carheeny, County Galway, a rectangular moated site stands as a reminder of medieval settlement patterns in North Galway.
Croisabearra, Carheeny, Co. Galway
The earthwork measures 53 metres north to south and 38 metres east to west, enclosed by two defensive banks with a fosse, or ditch, running between them. Though overgrown with trees and bramble, the monument remains in reasonably good condition, its outline still clearly visible from aerial photography captured by Cambridge University.
The site has seen various alterations over the centuries, with modern field walls now cutting through both the northern and southern sections of the monument. At the southeastern corner, a limekiln has been built directly into the inner bank, with what appears to be a second kiln visible on the western side; these later additions speak to the site’s continued use for agricultural purposes long after its original defensive function became obsolete. Several gaps puncture the banks, though these all appear to be modern breaches rather than original entrances.
This type of moated site typically dates from the 13th to 14th centuries and would have served as a fortified farmstead or manor for Anglo-Norman settlers or Gaelicised families. The double bank and fosse arrangement provided both practical defence and a statement of status in the medieval landscape. Today, whilst partially obscured by vegetation and bisected by field boundaries, the monument continues to mark its place on the low rise, offering insights into the medieval organisation of this part of rural Galway.