This almost square enclosure, measuring 38 metres by 37.5 metres, is defined by two earthen banks with a defensive ditch, or fosse, running between them. The inner bank reaches heights of up to 2.3 metres on its exterior side, whilst the outer bank stands at 1.9 metres at its tallest point. Both banks contain substantial amounts of stone, suggesting they may have originally featured stone facing to strengthen their defensive capabilities.

The site’s entrance, likely modified in more recent times, lies to the southwest where a causeway crosses the fosse, which reaches widths of up to 7 metres at its broadest point. The interior of the enclosure sits slightly elevated above the surrounding landscape, a common feature of such defensive sites that would have provided better visibility and drainage for its medieval inhabitants. The inner bank shows its best preservation along the northwestern and northeastern sections, whilst other areas display varying degrees of deterioration over the centuries.

These moated sites, which date primarily from the Anglo-Norman period in Ireland (late 12th to 14th centuries), served as fortified farmsteads for colonising families and local lords. The double bank and fosse arrangement at Cunnicar represents a substantial investment in defence, indicating this was likely the residence of someone of considerable local importance. Today, whilst the banks have weathered and the fosse has partially filled in, the site remains a well-preserved example of medieval rural settlement patterns in County Louth.