Known simply as ‘Moat & Fort’ on the 1837 Ordnance Survey map, this earthwork fortification consisted of a raised motte encircled by a defensive ditch, or fosse, with an additional external bank for extra protection. To the east lay the bailey, a lower courtyard area enclosed by an earthen bank with its own shallow outer ditch; the main entrance to this enclosure was positioned on the eastern side.

When surveyed in 1975, the remains were still visible enough to identify the classic motte and bailey layout that the Normans brought to Ireland in the late 12th century. These fortifications were typically constructed quickly using local labour and materials, serving as both military strongholds and administrative centres for newly conquered territories. The motte would have originally supported a wooden tower or keep, whilst the bailey housed various buildings including stables, workshops, and living quarters for the garrison.

Unfortunately, the site has since been completely levelled, likely through agricultural activity, and no traces of the medieval earthworks remain visible at ground level today. What was once a symbol of Norman authority in medieval Longford has returned to farmland, its history preserved only in historical records and maps. The site serves as a reminder of how many of Ireland’s medieval monuments have been lost to time and agricultural improvement, making those that survive all the more precious.