Known locally as Kilshane Moat, this earthwork first appeared on Ordnance Survey maps between 1837 and 1937, where it was depicted as a prominent mound surrounded by a defensive ditch, or fosse. The site measures approximately 67 metres north to south and 62 metres east to west, according to a 2007 geophysical survey that revealed clear archaeological responses beneath the surface. These subsurface features form a sub-circular pattern enclosed by a ditch, with internal responses suggesting the remains of occupational activity that may have been disturbed by centuries of ploughing.

The current landowner, who has been farming the field since 1955, has long noticed the abundance of stone in the area around the mound; enough that the plough regularly needs to be raised to avoid damage. This observation aligns with the geophysical evidence of buried structures and suggests that substantial remains lie beneath the earth. Aerial photography has provided additional insights into the monument’s extent and features. A crop-mark visible on digital imagery from June 2016 shows the earthwork measuring slightly larger than the geophysical survey indicated, at 67.5 metres north to south and 72.8 metres east to west.

Perhaps most intriguingly, an aerial photograph taken during the dry spell of July 2018 revealed a previously unnoticed feature: a tapering avenue defined by paired ditches extending southeast from the monument for approximately 140 metres. This processional way suggests the site held considerable importance, possibly serving as a Norman motte, a type of fortification consisting of a raised earthwork topped with a wooden or stone keep. The combination of historical mapping, modern survey techniques, and local knowledge continues to build a picture of this medieval earthwork, which has quietly dominated its corner of the Dublin countryside for centuries.