A bawn was essentially a fortified enclosure, typically built with sods or stone walls, that protected settlers’ houses and livestock during this tumultuous period of Irish history. The Plantation of Ulster saw English and Scottish settlers establish themselves across the northern counties, and defensive structures like bawns were essential for their survival in what was often hostile territory.

Historical records suggest this particular bawn drew water from the nearby White Lough to fill its defensive ditches, known as fosses. These water-filled trenches would have provided an additional layer of protection against raids and attacks. The structure would have been a simple but effective fortification; a rectangular or square enclosure with walls high enough to deter cattle raiders and provide shelter during conflicts between the native Irish and the new settlers.

Today, no visible traces of the bawn remain above ground, and the site lies unplanted within a forest. The location was documented by Oliver Davies in 1948, and whilst nothing can be seen on the surface, the historical significance of the site remains. It serves as a reminder of the dramatic changes that swept through Cavan during the Plantation, when the landscape was transformed by new settlements, fortifications, and agricultural practices that would shape the county for centuries to come.