The structure consists of an overgrown, flat-topped earthen mound that measures roughly 12 metres across at its summit and expands to about 35 metres at its base. The height varies considerably, ranging from 2 metres on one side to 6 metres on the other, suggesting either uneven construction or centuries of erosion and settlement.

While no defensive ditch or fosse is visible today, an earthen bank encircles the motte, likely the remnants of what archaeologists call a tree-ring; a wooden palisade that would have surrounded the base for additional protection. This type of fortification was typical of the Anglo-Normans who arrived in Ireland during the late 12th century, bringing with them their distinctive motte-and-bailey castle design. These structures served as both military strongholds and administrative centres, helping to establish Norman control over newly conquered territories.

The motte at Jordanstown would originally have supported a wooden tower or keep at its summit, accessed by a wooden bridge or stairs running up the slope. From this elevated position, the castle’s occupants could survey the surrounding landscape and defend against attack. Today, nature has reclaimed much of the site, with vegetation covering the earthworks, but the distinctive profile of this medieval fortification remains clearly visible in the Meath countryside, a lasting monument to the Norman transformation of medieval Ireland.