Moated site, Finuge, Co. Kerry
In the countryside near Finuge, County Kerry, lies a curious medieval earthwork that hints at Ireland's turbulent past.
Moated site, Finuge, Co. Kerry
This moated site consists of a nearly square enclosure, measuring approximately 38 metres north to south and 39 metres east to west. The earthen bank that defines its perimeter varies considerably in width, from 2 to 6.2 metres, whilst standing between 0.8 and 1.2 metres high when viewed from outside; inside, it appears more modest at 0.4 to 0.8 metres. The interior sits slightly elevated compared to the surrounding landscape, creating a subtle but distinctive raised platform.
The site’s defensive character becomes clear when examining its external fosse, or ditch, which is particularly well preserved along the southeastern to eastern sections. This water filled ditch ranges from 2 to 6.2 metres wide and plunges 0.5 to 1.2 metres below ground level, forming what would have been a formidable barrier in medieval times. These moated sites, typically dating from the 13th to 14th centuries, served as fortified homesteads for Anglo Norman settlers and prosperous Gaelic families alike; they offered protection for both residents and livestock whilst projecting status and authority across the landscape.
Today, nature has largely reclaimed this historic fortification, with dense vegetation obscuring many of its features. Several gaps punctuate the earthen bank, though the overgrowth makes it challenging to determine which might have served as the original entrance. Despite its weathered state, the site remains a tangible link to medieval Ireland, when such enclosures dotted the countryside, marking centres of agricultural production and local power in an often contested landscape.