The site forms a rough trapezoid, stretching up to 39 metres east to west at its widest point, whilst the north to south dimensions vary from 38.6 metres at the broadest to 26.4 metres at the narrowest. The medieval builders cleverly adapted to the natural hillslope by raising the interior on the southwestern side, creating a level platform for whatever structures once stood within.

The defensive features of this site tell a story of medieval Ireland’s uncertain times. An earthen bank standing 1.2 metres high guards the northern and eastern approaches, whilst the remaining perimeter is protected by a scarp of similar height, about one metre. Beyond the bank, the original defenders dug a fosse, or defensive ditch, reaching depths of a metre on the north and east sides; a shallower depression on the southern edge suggests either a less finished defensive work or perhaps natural erosion over the centuries.

This type of moated site is characteristic of Anglo-Norman settlement patterns in medieval Cork, likely dating from the 13th or 14th century when such fortified farmsteads dotted the Irish landscape. These sites typically housed prosperous farming families who needed protection for their livestock and crops, yet weren’t wealthy enough for stone castles. The careful preservation of the earthworks at Ballinveiltig offers modern visitors a tangible connection to this period of Irish history, when the line between farmer and warrior was often blurred.