Moated site, Castlepark, Co. Clare
Castlepark in County Clare reveals the layered history typical of Ireland's strategic sites, where centuries of occupation have left their mark on the landscape.
Moated site, Castlepark, Co. Clare
The site’s most prominent feature is a substantial moated enclosure, likely dating to the Anglo-Norman period when such defensive earthworks were common across the Irish countryside. These moated sites, which number in the hundreds across Ireland, were typically constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries as fortified homesteads for Anglo-Norman settlers or wealthy Irish families adapting Norman building techniques.
The rectangular earthwork enclosure at Castlepark measures approximately 40 metres by 50 metres, surrounded by a water-filled moat that would have served both defensive and status purposes. Archaeological surveys suggest the site continued in use well into the post-medieval period, with evidence of later stone structures built within or near the original earthworks. The presence of a castle in the vicinity, from which the townland takes its name, indicates this was an area of considerable importance during the medieval period, controlling local trade routes and agricultural lands.
What makes Castlepark particularly interesting is its preservation; unlike many moated sites that have been levelled by agriculture or development, this example retains much of its original form. The earthen banks still rise several metres above the surrounding fields, whilst the moat, though partially silted, remains visible as a depression encircling the central platform. Local tradition associates the site with various historical figures and events, though documentary evidence remains elusive, adding to the mystery that surrounds many of Ireland’s medieval earthworks.