This oval-shaped mound rises to about 3.5 metres in height, with a flattened top measuring roughly 20 metres north to south and 14 metres east to west. At its base, the structure extends to approximately 31 metres by 25 metres, and it’s surrounded by a wide, shallow ditch known as a fosse that would have provided additional defensive capabilities in its heyday.

The mound has seen better days; its northern side drops away steeply whilst the western edge shows clear signs of quarrying damage. The encircling fosse remains visible as a broad, flat-bottomed depression, though there’s no evidence of an accompanying bailey, which would typically have served as an enclosed courtyard for such fortifications. The low-lying location within the graveyard adds an interesting dimension to the site, as mottes were more commonly positioned on naturally elevated ground for strategic advantage.

Archaeological surveys have classified this as a possible motte, one of the earthwork castle types introduced to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans in the late 12th century. These structures typically consisted of a raised earth mound topped with a wooden palisade or tower, serving as both defensive strongholds and symbols of Norman authority. The Ballymooney example, whilst poorly preserved, offers a tangible link to this transformative period in Irish history when new forms of military architecture reshaped the landscape.