The entire structure stands between 3.5 and 5 metres high, with the base spanning approximately 27 metres in diameter. A few trees now grow on its grassy surface, whilst remnants of a defensive ditch, or fosse, can still be traced along its western and north-western edges; this ancient feature measures roughly 6 metres wide and half a metre deep where it survives.

This mound represents the remains of a motte, a type of medieval fortification introduced to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans in the late 12th century. These earthworks typically supported a wooden tower or palisade on their summit, forming the defensive heart of a motte-and-bailey castle complex. The strategic positioning of such structures allowed Norman lords to control and administer newly conquered territories whilst providing a secure base from which to launch further campaigns or defend against Irish raids.

The site appears to correspond with a mound documented by archaeologist P.J. Hartnett in 1957, who recorded a similar earthwork in the neighbouring townland of Raholland to the west. This connection suggests the feature may have been subject to some confusion regarding its precise location in earlier surveys, a common issue when dealing with boundary changes and local place name variations over time. The motte at Lisdornan stands as one of numerous Anglo-Norman earthworks scattered across County Meath, each marking the medieval transformation of the Irish landscape during a period of conquest and colonisation.