The site consisted of what appeared to be a natural mound that had been modified and defined by an earthen bank, with remnants of a defensive ditch (or fosse) and an outer bank visible on one side. These features were typical of Norman defensive structures, which often made strategic use of natural features in the landscape, particularly near river crossings where control of movement and trade was crucial.

Unfortunately, extensive quarrying activity has completely obliterated any trace of this historical site, leaving only documentary records to tell its story. The monument was first properly recorded by Price in 1953, who noted the earthwork features that were still visible at that time. Despite its complete destruction, the site’s historical significance was recognised when it was placed under a preservation order in 1940, though this protection came too late to save the physical remains.

The loss of Athdown Moat represents a common fate for many of Ireland’s earthwork monuments, particularly those located in areas valuable for industrial extraction. What makes this site particularly intriguing is its position near a ford on the Liffey, suggesting it may have played a role in controlling this important river crossing during medieval times. Today, visitors to the area will find no visible traces of this once potentially significant fortification, but its story remains part of the archaeological record of County Wicklow, preserved in the county’s Archaeological Inventory published in 1997.