This rectangular earthwork, measuring roughly 40 by 30 metres, is surrounded by a water-filled moat that would have served as both a defensive barrier and a status symbol. The site likely dates from the 13th or 14th century, when Anglo-Norman settlers and Gaelicised families built such fortified homesteads across the Irish countryside. Though no structures remain visible above ground, the clearly defined banks and ditches suggest this was once home to a timber hall or stone tower house, complete with outbuildings for livestock and storage.

These moated sites represent a fascinating chapter in Irish medieval history, marking the intersection of Norman military architecture and Irish building traditions. Unlike the grand stone castles of the nobility, moated sites were typically built by lesser landowners; merchants, minor lords, and prosperous farmers who needed protection but lacked the resources for elaborate fortifications. The water-filled moat at Carrowmunniagh would have been fed by natural springs or diverted streams, creating a formidable obstacle for would-be attackers whilst also providing fresh fish for the table and water for domestic use.

Today, the site stands quietly in the Galway landscape, its banks softened by centuries of weathering but still clearly visible to the keen-eyed visitor. Archaeological surveys have identified over 200 similar moated sites across Ireland, with concentrations in counties like Wexford, Cork, and Tipperary, though examples in Connacht provinces like this one at Carrowmunniagh are relatively rare. These earthworks serve as reminders of a time when even modest landholders needed to think defensively, constructing their homes as miniature fortresses in an era marked by cattle raids, territorial disputes, and the gradual integration of Norman and Gaelic cultures.