The grass-covered structure rises between 5.5 and 7 metres high, with a flattened summit measuring roughly 13.5 metres north to south and 8 metres east to west. At its base, the mound spreads considerably wider, spanning 39 metres by 35 metres. Around 110 metres to the southwest stands an ancient standing stone, suggesting this hilltop has held significance for millennia.

The mound’s most intriguing features include faint traces of what appears to be a fosse, or defensive ditch, visible along its southwestern to northwestern sides. This ditch reaches up to 15 metres in width where it survives, though elsewhere it seems to have been interrupted or replaced by a masonry wall positioned between 4 and 7 metres from the mound’s base. The structure’s form suggests it could be a prehistoric barrow, a burial mound dating back thousands of years, though the discovery of medieval pottery fragments in the surrounding area hints at a more complex history.

Archaeological investigations led by C.M. Tracey in 1983 brought renewed attention to Gallowshill, though the site’s true origins remain somewhat mysterious. The mound’s commanding position and substantial construction suggest it held considerable importance, whether as an ancient burial site, a Norman motte (the earthwork base of a medieval castle), or perhaps serving different purposes across different eras. Its prominent location and enduring presence continue to make it a notable landmark in County Waterford’s archaeological landscape.