Known locally as a motte, this medieval fortification was documented as the ‘Moat of Kiltriske’ in the Civil Survey of 1654-6, where it served as a boundary marker for Donaghmore parish. The structure sits atop a low ridge that runs east to west, its strategic position offering commanding views of the surrounding countryside.

The mound itself is a substantial earthwork, rising between 1.5 and 1.8 metres high with a flat top measuring 12 metres across. At its base, the structure spans 20 metres in diameter, and careful examination reveals the remains of defensive features that once protected its occupants. A slight bank, approximately 3 metres wide and 30 centimetres high, defines the perimeter of the summit, whilst traces of what appears to be a fosse, or defensive ditch, can still be detected along the eastern side. These architectural details mark it as a classic example of a Norman motte, likely constructed during the 12th or 13th century when Anglo-Norman lords were establishing their control over the Irish landscape.

Today, trees have taken root on the ancient earthwork, their presence adding to the site’s atmospheric quality. Just 330 metres to the north-northeast lies the site of Kiltrisk church, suggesting this area once formed an important medieval settlement. Whilst time and weather have softened the motte’s once-formidable profile, it remains a tangible link to Wexford’s medieval past; a reminder of the Norman conquest and the defensive structures that once dotted the Irish countryside during those turbulent centuries.