This oval mound, known as a motte, rises between 2.6 and 3.5 metres above the surrounding countryside and measures 25 metres across at its base. The flat summit, roughly 14 by 11 metres, would have originally supported a wooden tower or palisade, providing a strategic vantage point over the fairly level landscape. Today, trees cover the entire structure, giving it an almost natural appearance to the casual observer.

The motte’s defensive features are still visible despite centuries of weathering. Around the eastern and southeastern sides, you can trace the remains of a wide fosse, or defensive ditch, which would have made the artificial hill even more formidable to potential attackers. This ditch, now only about 20 centimetres deep, originally extended 13 metres from the mound’s base, creating an additional barrier that defenders could control. Such earthworks were typical of the Anglo-Norman period in Ireland, constructed quickly using local labour to establish control over newly conquered territories.

The motte’s location appears carefully chosen, sitting just 100 metres from the medieval parish church of Rathbegan. This proximity suggests the site held considerable importance in the medieval landscape, likely serving as both a military stronghold and administrative centre for the surrounding area. The connection between castle and church was common in Norman Ireland, where secular and religious power often worked hand in hand to maintain control over the local population.