This defensive feature, which would have provided an additional layer of protection for the castle, remained clearly visible as late as 1990. The enclosure would have been typical of medieval fortifications in Ireland, where such ditches served both defensive and symbolic purposes, marking out the territory of the castle and creating a formidable barrier for any would-be attackers.

By the early 2000s, however, much of this historic earthwork had been lost to time and development. When researcher Simpson surveyed the site in 2003, only traces of the northern section of the moat survived, sitting about 6.5 metres from the castle itself. What remains is a shallow depression, roughly 6 metres wide and at least 1 metre deep, now marked primarily by patches of nettles that have colonised the old defensive ditch.

The castle and its bawn represent a fascinating piece of Wicklow’s medieval heritage, though visitors today will need a keen eye and some imagination to appreciate the full extent of the original fortification. The surviving traces offer a glimpse into how Anglo-Norman settlers and their descendants shaped the Irish landscape, creating defensive structures that combined practical military architecture with statements of power and control over the surrounding countryside.