This rectangular enclosure measures 42 metres from north to south and 14.6 metres from east to west, defended by a low earthen bank with an external fosse, or defensive ditch, running along three of its sides. The western edge needed no such artificial defence; here, the land drops away sharply towards the river below, creating a natural barrier that would have deterred any unwelcome visitors.

The fosse itself tells an interesting story of changing landscapes and water management. Along the southern side, what was once a water-filled defensive ditch has been repurposed over the centuries, now serving as the bed for a seasonal stream that runs dry for much of the year. This transformation from medieval defence to natural drainage channel shows how these ancient sites continue to shape the landscape long after their original purpose has been forgotten.

Moated sites like this one were typically built between the 13th and 14th centuries, often by Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous farming families who needed both security and status symbols in medieval Ireland. The combination of artificial defences and natural topography at Agharue represents the practical approach these medieval builders took; why dig a fourth ditch when nature had already provided a perfectly good cliff? Today, these earthworks stand as subtle reminders of a time when the Irish countryside was dotted with small, fortified farmsteads, each one a tiny fortress in an often uncertain world.