The excavation, conducted under Licence No. 05E0452, uncovered a moated site alongside two earlier monuments; a ring-ditch and a ringfort, catalogued as CW008-065 and CW008-066 respectively.

The moated site itself consisted of a rectangular area surrounded by a substantial ditch, measuring between five and six metres wide. What makes this site particularly fascinating is the relationship between these three features. The moated site’s ditch actually cuts through both the earlier ringfort and ring-ditch, indicating it was constructed after these monuments had already been established and possibly abandoned. This layering of archaeological features demonstrates how the same piece of land was repeatedly chosen for settlement and reoccupation throughout different periods of Irish history.

Only a small portion of the moated site was excavated during the 2005 investigation, with the remainder carefully preserved in situ beneath what is now a golf course. This approach to preservation means that much of the site remains intact for future study, whilst the excavated portion, documented by archaeologist E. Stafford in 2008, has provided valuable insights into the complex history of medieval settlement patterns in County Carlow. The site serves as a reminder that beneath Ireland’s modern landscape lies layer upon layer of human history, each generation building upon or replacing what came before.