Moated site, Courtnabooly East, Co. Kilkenny
At the base of a gently sloping hillside in County Kilkenny's poorly drained pastureland sits the remains of a medieval moated site at Courtnabooly East.
Moated site, Courtnabooly East, Co. Kilkenny
The rectangular platform, measuring 60 metres east to west and 55 metres north to south, is enclosed by the remnants of an earthen bank and water-filled ditch that once provided defensive protection for whatever structures stood here centuries ago. The site enjoys commanding views across the countryside from east to southeast, and forms part of a broader medieval landscape; another moated site lies about 450 metres to the west-northwest, whilst an enclosure can be found roughly 500 metres to the east.
The defensive earthworks, though weathered by time, still tell their story. The surrounding bank reaches up to 1.7 metres in height and spans 4 metres in width, with mature trees and brambles now claiming the western section where preservation is best. The moat itself, originally 4.5 metres wide, remains waterlogged only on the eastern side; elsewhere it has been filled in over the centuries. Several breaches in the bank, at the southeast, northwest, and northern end of the northeast side, now serve as gateways for modern farming activities.
Today, two farm buildings occupy the interior of this ancient fortified space, both oriented northwest to southeast. A shallow channel, nearly 3 metres wide, extends northeast from the eastern moat towards a field drain, possibly representing a leat that once controlled water flow to or from the moat. First documented by Barry in 1977, this site continues to serve agricultural purposes whilst preserving the footprint of medieval defensive architecture in the Irish countryside.





