The motte rises from a low ridge at the western edge of an east-west valley, where a nearby stream curves northeast around its base. This flat-topped mound measures 22 metres across its summit and stretches 35 metres at its base, reaching heights of 5.5 metres on its southern side. A defensive fosse, or dry moat, encircles the structure, separated from the mound by a narrow berm and extending the total diameter to roughly 80 metres.

The strategic placement of this fortification reflects the complex feudal politics of medieval Ireland. After Strongbow granted the Duffry region to Robert de Quency, it passed through his daughter Maud’s marriage to Philip de Prendergast, establishing that family’s control over the area. By 1247, Gerald de Prendergast held these lands alongside Ayrmellach, maintaining them through the service of nine knights’ fees. The barony changed hands several times over the centuries; Maurice de Rupe controlled it in 1324, and by 1425, John Rochford’s heir held sway. The motte itself was likely constructed by a Prendergast knight or one of their tenants, serving as both a defensive stronghold and a symbol of Norman authority.

Today, mixed woodland covers the site, but traces of its past remain accessible to the curious visitor. During excavations in 1925, diggers uncovered a paved area on the motte, hinting at more substantial structures that once crowned this earthwork. The surrounding landscape tells a broader story of medieval settlement; the site of Killegney church lies just 300 metres to the southwest, whilst another moated site sits 280 metres to the west-southwest, across the stream. Together, these features paint a picture of a thriving medieval community, centred around this imposing Norman fortification.