This subrectangular, flat-topped structure measured nearly 20 metres from west-northwest to east-southeast and rose about 1.3 metres above the surrounding fields. What made it particularly interesting was the external fosse, a defensive ditch roughly 4.5 metres wide, that completely encircled the mound. When archaeologist McCaffrey documented the site in 1952, this fosse was filled with water, lending credence to the theory that this was once a moated site; a type of medieval homestead typically associated with Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous Irish families.

The location itself tells a story of strategic placement. Set amongst outcropping rocks in otherwise level farmland, with woodland to the north, the site would have offered both defensive advantages and agricultural potential to its medieval inhabitants. Moated sites like this one were common throughout Ireland between the 13th and 17th centuries, serving as fortified farmsteads for families of moderate wealth who couldn’t quite afford stone castles but needed more protection than a simple dwelling could provide.

Unfortunately, this piece of Ireland’s medieval landscape appears to have met a common fate. The Galway Archaeological Survey team from UCG noted in their 1983 inspection that the mound and its surrounding features were still clearly visible. However, aerial imagery from Google Earth in 2019 suggests the site has since been levelled, likely lost to agricultural improvement or development. It’s a reminder that many of Ireland’s archaeological treasures exist in a precarious state, documented in surveys and reports but vulnerable to the pressures of modern land use.