The enclosure, measuring roughly 35 metres square, appears clearly on the historical document, yet today there’s nothing visible on the ground to indicate what might have been there. Local historians and archaeologists suspect this phantom outline represents a medieval moated site; a type of fortified homestead that was once common across the Irish landscape.

Moated sites were typically constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries, often by Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous Irish families. These defensive structures consisted of a raised platform surrounded by a water-filled ditch, upon which a timber hall or stone building would have stood. The moat served multiple purposes: defence against raids, drainage for the central platform, and as a status symbol for the landowner. While hundreds of these sites have been identified across Ireland, many, like the one at Commonstown, have left little trace above ground, their ditches filled in by centuries of agricultural activity.

The fact that this site appeared prominently enough to warrant inclusion on the 1837 Ordnance Survey map suggests it was still recognisable as an earthwork in the early 19th century. Today, advanced archaeological techniques such as geophysical survey or aerial photography during drought conditions might reveal the subsurface remains of the ditches and any associated features. Until then, this corner of Kildare holds its secrets beneath the soil, a reminder that the Irish landscape is layered with centuries of hidden history.