Castle - motte and bailey, Castlecor, Co. Meath
The motte and bailey castle at Castlecor sits atop an esker ridge that runs northwest to southeast through the Meath countryside.
Castle - motte and bailey, Castlecor, Co. Meath
The motte itself is an impressive circular mound, now covered in grass with mature deciduous trees growing on its slopes. Rising between 7.5 and 8.7 metres high, the mound has a flat top measuring about 13 metres across, whilst its base spans roughly 45 metres in diameter. A defensive ditch, or fosse, encircles much of the structure, most prominently visible on the western and northern sides where it reaches depths of up to 3 metres. Beyond this, a counterscarp bank adds another layer to the castle’s earthwork defences.
Attached to the southeast side of the motte is a crescent-shaped bailey, a fortified enclosure that would have housed the castle’s domestic buildings and provided space for daily activities. This grassy area measures approximately 28 metres from northeast to southwest and 14 metres from northwest to southeast, defined by steep scarps that rise nearly 4 metres on the southeastern side. A raised platform at the southwestern edge of the bailey likely marks where important structures once stood, perhaps administrative buildings or workshops essential to the castle’s operation.
The castle’s strategic position becomes clearer when considering its relationship to the surrounding landscape. About 120 metres to the southeast stands a medieval church, suggesting this was once the heart of a thriving medieval settlement. The esker ridge itself would have provided natural defensive advantages whilst offering commanding views across the surrounding countryside; essential for monitoring approaches and maintaining control over the local area during the turbulent medieval period.





