These structures, typically dating from the 13th to 14th centuries, were built by Anglo-Norman settlers and wealthy Irish families who adopted Norman building practices. The site consists of a raised rectangular platform surrounded by a water-filled defensive ditch, or moat, which would have originally protected a timber hall or tower house at its centre.

Moated sites like this one represent a fascinating period in Irish history when new architectural ideas merged with local building traditions. The moat served multiple purposes; beyond defence, it provided drainage for the central platform, a source of fresh fish, and a clear statement of the owner’s status and wealth. Archaeological evidence from similar sites across Ireland suggests these settlements housed extended families along with servants and craftspeople, functioning as self-sufficient rural estates.

Though the original structures have long since disappeared, the earthworks at Baile Chláir remain clearly visible in the landscape, offering visitors a tangible connection to medieval Galway. The site forms part of a broader network of Anglo-Norman settlements that transformed the Irish countryside during the medieval period, each one telling the story of how incoming settlers and local populations gradually merged to create the complex cultural tapestry of modern Ireland.