This 13th to 14th century settlement left no visible trace above ground until archaeologists partially excavated it between 1981 and 1982, ahead of the Cork-Dublin gas pipeline construction. The excavation revealed a fascinating glimpse into medieval Irish life: the site was enclosed by a U-shaped fosse, measuring between two and five metres wide at the surface and up to 1.5 metres deep, which surrounded an internal area of approximately 1,300 to 1,500 square metres. Rather than the typical earthen bank found at many moated sites, Ballyveelish North featured evidence of a wooden palisade along its eastern side.

Within this enclosed space, archaeologists uncovered the foundations of four structures; three definite buildings in the eastern section and a possible fourth in the western area. The relatively modest collection of artefacts suggests the site may have been occupied for only a brief period. Among the finds were items typical of the period: fragments of green glazed ware and micaceous pottery, fourteen pieces of rotary quern stones used for grinding grain, a hone stone fragment for sharpening tools, a lugged mortar, various iron implements including nails, a knife and a bracket, plus the broken shaft of a bronze stick pin. These discoveries align with dating evidence from other Irish moated sites, such as Kilmagoura in Cork, where timber from a causeway was dated to around 1225 AD, and Rigsdale, where a coin from Edward I’s reign (1279-80) was found beneath the bank.

The excavation also revealed shallow trenches outside the main moated area, three of which appear to have been contemporary with the settlement itself. These features likely served practical purposes, either as drainage channels or field boundaries for agricultural cultivation. This broader landscape context helps paint a picture of how these medieval settlers organised their immediate environment, combining defensive structures with the practical needs of farming and daily life in 13th and 14th century Ireland.