This earthwork castle, likely constructed during the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th or early 13th century, consists of a raised earthen mound (the motte) topped by what would have been a wooden tower, alongside a lower enclosed courtyard (the bailey) where daily activities took place.

The motte at Knockanush West rises impressively from the surrounding fields, a testament to the considerable labour required to pile earth into such a defensive structure. These castles were quick to build compared to stone fortifications, making them ideal for the Anglo-Normans who needed to rapidly secure newly conquered territories. The wooden palisades and buildings that once crowned the motte have long since vanished, leaving only the distinctive artificial hill that marks where Norman lords once surveyed their lands.

Today, the site offers visitors a tangible connection to Ireland’s complex medieval past, when Gaelic chieftains, Anglo-Norman knights, and later English administrators all vied for control of the countryside. While grander stone castles often steal the spotlight, these humbler earthwork fortifications were the backbone of medieval military strategy in Ireland; practical, efficient, and remarkably enduring despite being made primarily of earth and timber.