Moated site, Park, Co. Galway
In the grasslands near Park in County Galway, the remains of a medieval moated site offer a glimpse into Ireland's turbulent past.
Moated site, Park, Co. Galway
This almost square enclosure, measuring roughly 45 metres on each side, would have once been an impressive defensive structure. Today, what survives is a degraded earthwork consisting of a scarp and an external fosse, or defensive ditch, with the northern and eastern sides showing the best preservation. A later field wall now runs across the southern portion of the site, cutting through the original medieval boundaries.
The most intriguing feature of this site is the hall-house foundation that sits just inside the southwestern corner of the enclosure. Hall-houses were typical dwellings of the Anglo-Norman period in Ireland, usually consisting of a single large room that served multiple purposes; living, eating, and sleeping all happened in this communal space. The presence of both the moated enclosure and the hall-house suggests this was likely the residence of a minor lord or prosperous farmer during the medieval period, probably dating from the 13th to 15th centuries.
Moated sites like this one are scattered across the Irish countryside, particularly in areas of Anglo-Norman settlement. They represent a fascinating period when new colonists were establishing themselves whilst adapting to local conditions and threats. The moat and defensive earthworks would have provided protection not just from raids but also served as a status symbol, marking the occupants as people of some standing in medieval society. Though time and agriculture have worn down these earthworks, they remain important markers in the landscape, telling the story of how medieval Ireland was shaped by conquest, settlement, and adaptation.