Moated site, Dangan More, Co. Cork
In a pasture atop a hill in Dangan More, County Cork, lies a medieval moated site that offers a glimpse into Ireland's defensive past.
Moated site, Dangan More, Co. Cork
The site consists of a slightly raised rectangular platform measuring 32 metres north to south and 28.4 metres east to west, enclosed by an earthen scarp that reaches up to 1.6 metres in height. Today, a field fence runs along the southern base of the scarp, whilst the interior remains level and grassed over.
Moated sites like this one were typically constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries, primarily by Anglo-Norman settlers who brought this defensive architectural style from England. These earthwork enclosures served as fortified homesteads for wealthy farmers and minor lords, providing protection for timber-framed manor houses or farm buildings that once stood on the raised platform. The surrounding moat, now dry and visible as the scarp, would have been water-filled in medieval times, creating both a defensive barrier and a status symbol for its inhabitants.
The Dangan More site represents one of many such structures scattered across County Cork, each telling the story of medieval settlement patterns and the complex relationship between Anglo-Norman colonists and the Gaelic Irish population. Though the original buildings have long since disappeared, the earthworks remain remarkably well preserved, allowing visitors to trace the footprint of what was once a bustling medieval farmstead. The site was formally documented in the Archaeological Inventory of County Cork in 1992, ensuring its protection as part of Ireland’s medieval heritage.