Moated site, Ballybannon, Co. Carlow
In the townland of Ballybannon, County Carlow, lies the remains of a medieval moated site that reveals itself through subtle traces in the landscape.
Moated site, Ballybannon, Co. Carlow
This square enclosure, measuring approximately 45 metres on each side, is now bisected by a modern field boundary that cuts through what was once a unified defensive structure. The site dates from the medieval period when such fortified homesteads were common across the Irish countryside, serving as protected residences for Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous Irish families.
The northern section of the site presents itself as a gently raised platform, its boundaries marked by cropmarks that become visible under certain conditions; two along the northern and eastern edges, with another defining the western perimeter. These marks in the vegetation indicate where defensive ditches or banks once stood, their organic material enriching the soil and affecting plant growth centuries later. South of the dividing field boundary, the site’s defensive features are more readily apparent, with the remnants of an earthen bank still visible despite centuries of agricultural activity.
What makes this site particularly interesting is the evidence of multiple defensive rings. The southern portion preserves not only the main bank but also traces of an external fosse, or defensive ditch, and hints of an outer bank beyond that. This layered defence system suggests the site held some importance, perhaps serving as a manorial centre or the residence of a local lord. Though much altered by time and farming, these earthworks offer a tangible connection to Carlow’s medieval past, when the Irish landscape was dotted with such fortified dwellings.