What was once a substantial moated site, sitting atop a slight rise in the undulating terrain, has been completely levelled over time. The only evidence of its existence comes from historical records; specifically, the 1923 Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, which depicts it as a rectangular enclosure measuring approximately 60 metres from north to south and 50 metres from east to west.

This type of monument represents an important piece of medieval Irish history. Moated sites were typically built between the 13th and 14th centuries, often by Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous Irish families. They consisted of a raised platform surrounded by a water-filled ditch or moat, which served both defensive and status purposes. The platform would have supported a wooden hall or tower, along with various outbuildings for agricultural and domestic use.

Today, visitors to Ballyhinnaught will find no surface trace of this once-prominent feature. The site has been absorbed back into the agricultural landscape, its ditches filled and its banks flattened, leaving only the documentary evidence to tell its story. It’s a reminder of how much of Ireland’s medieval heritage lies hidden beneath seemingly ordinary fields, waiting to be rediscovered through maps, records, and archaeological investigation.