Moated site, Carrowpadeen West, Co. Galway
In the quiet pastures of Carrowpadeen West, County Galway, lies a hidden piece of medieval Ireland that only reveals itself through old maps and archaeological records.
Moated site, Carrowpadeen West, Co. Galway
This moated site, though invisible to the modern eye, once stood as a rectangular enclosure measuring roughly 60 metres from northwest to southeast and 45 metres from east to west. The site sits in low-lying reclaimed pastureland, where centuries of agricultural use have erased any visible surface traces of what was once likely a defended farmstead or manor house.
Moated sites like this one were typically built between the 13th and 14th centuries, representing a fascinating chapter in Irish rural history. These earthwork enclosures, surrounded by water-filled ditches, served as homes for Anglo-Norman settlers and prosperous Irish families who adopted this defensive architectural style. The moat would have provided both protection and a statement of status, while the enclosed area contained the main dwelling, outbuildings, and perhaps small gardens or orchards.
The site appears on the 1932 Ordnance Survey map, suggesting it remained recognisable as an archaeological feature well into the 20th century before agricultural improvements finally obscured it completely. Today, this invisible monument serves as a reminder of how the Irish landscape holds countless stories beneath its surface; places where medieval life once thrived now exist only in historical records and the careful documentation of archaeologists who catalogued these sites before they vanished entirely from view.