About 800 metres to the north-northeast, Kilcash church keeps watch over the location. Historical maps from 1841 show this as a substantial mound with a base diameter of roughly 40 metres, accompanied by a smaller subcircular enclosure measuring approximately 30 by 20 metres to the southwest.

This intriguing site has sparked considerable debate amongst historians and archaeologists about its true nature and purpose. Early scholars like Kinahan and Westropp, writing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, identified it as a motte and bailey; a type of fortification introduced by the Normans. Kinahan even noted the presence of a midden, essentially an ancient rubbish heap, in the defensive ditch at the southwest side. However, Orpen proposed a more ancient function, suggesting this was where the Uí Cinsealaigh, a powerful Irish dynasty, held their inauguration ceremonies. Modern archaeological thinking, particularly from FitzPatrick’s 2004 research, supports the theory that a prehistoric mound likely formed the core of the site, which was later adapted for ceremonial use before possibly being converted into a Norman fortification.

Unfortunately, quarrying activities have completely removed any visible traces of this multi-layered historical site at ground level. The location also contained a standing stone and evidence of ancient burials, including cist and pit graves, highlighting the site’s long and complex history spanning from prehistoric times through the medieval period. While we can no longer see these features, the archaeological record preserves the story of a place that served various communities across millennia, from prehistoric burial ground to royal inauguration site to medieval stronghold.