Moated site, Killeedy North, Co. Limerick
In the quiet pastures of Killeedy North, County Limerick, a curious rectangular earthwork marks the landscape.
Moated site, Killeedy North, Co. Limerick
This moated site measures roughly 18 metres from north to south and 32 metres from east to west, its boundaries clearly defined by an earthen bank that rises about half a metre on its outer face. The bank is accompanied by an external fosse, or defensive ditch, that runs around the perimeter with a base width of 2 metres and a depth of 0.4 metres.
The interior of this ancient enclosure remains remarkably level, though the grass that covers it grows in waterlogged conditions, suggesting poor drainage or perhaps the remnants of the water management system that once filled the surrounding moat. These moated sites are fascinating features of the Irish medieval landscape, typically dating from the 13th to 14th centuries when Anglo-Norman settlers established fortified farmsteads across the countryside.
While the Killeedy North site may appear unremarkable at first glance, just another field in the Irish countryside, it represents centuries of human occupation and adaptation. The careful construction of the earthen banks and the precise rectangular layout speak to deliberate planning and considerable labour investment. Today, the site stands as a subtle reminder of medieval life in Limerick, when such moated enclosures provided both security and status to their inhabitants, combining practical defence with agricultural management in Ireland’s often turbulent medieval period.





