Moated site, Carrowgarry, Co. Sligo
In the quiet pastures of Carrowgarry, County Sligo, the remnants of a medieval moated site tell a story of Ireland's turbulent past.
Moated site, Carrowgarry, Co. Sligo
This raised, rectangular platform measures roughly 35.5 metres north to south and 32.5 metres east to west, surrounded by an earthen bank that still stands about 1.4 metres high on its outer face. Though centuries of weather and farming have softened its edges, the defensive earthwork remains clearly visible, complete with an infilled fosse, or defensive ditch, that once measured 4 metres wide.
The site shows signs of sophisticated medieval engineering, with a second, outer bank visible on the western side; fragments of this secondary defence can also be traced along the northern edge. These double banks suggest the site’s builders took security seriously, creating multiple layers of protection for whatever structures once stood within. A curious square raised area, about 5 metres across, sits at the western foot of the outer bank, possibly marking an outbuilding or gatehouse. The original entrance appears to have been on the eastern side, where a 2-metre gap breaks the otherwise continuous earthwork.
Within the enclosed area, archaeologists have noted a mysterious linear rise in the northeast quadrant, stretching about 9 metres in length. Its purpose remains unknown; it could mark the foundation of a building, a collapsed wall, or some other medieval feature lost to time. These moated sites, typically dating from the 13th to 15th centuries, served as fortified homesteads for Anglo-Norman settlers and wealthy Irish families, combining defensive features with agricultural management in an era when both were essential for survival.