This medieval moated site measures 44 metres from north to south and 54 metres from east to west, enclosed by an earthen bank that stands about 40 centimetres high on the inside but drops a full metre on its outer face. The bank is accompanied by an external fosse, or defensive ditch, which runs around the perimeter with a base width of 1.4 metres, though time has reduced its depth to a mere 20 centimetres.

The site has undergone various modifications over the centuries, adapting to the changing needs of the land. The fosse has been recut from the southeast to southwest corner, repurposed as a watercourse that likely helped with drainage of the surrounding fields. Meanwhile, the eastern and northwestern sections of the bank have been incorporated into modern field boundaries, a common fate for many of Ireland’s ancient earthworks as agricultural practices evolved.

Such moated sites are characteristic of Anglo-Norman settlement patterns in medieval Ireland, typically dating from the 13th to 14th centuries. They served as defended farmsteads for colonising families, offering protection for both residents and livestock whilst establishing a visible presence in the landscape. The Arranagh example, though modest in its current state, represents an important piece of Limerick’s medieval heritage; a physical reminder of the complex patterns of settlement and land use that shaped the Irish countryside during the Middle Ages.