Moated site, Dromore, Co. Westmeath
This rectangular earthwork enclosure in County Westmeath offers a glimpse into medieval Irish settlement patterns.
Moated site, Dromore, Co. Westmeath
Measuring approximately 36.5 metres from north-northwest to south-southeast and 32.5 metres from west-southwest to east-northeast, the site consists of a low earthen bank reinforced with stone that forms a roughly rectangular boundary. The Archaeological Survey of Ireland documented the monument in 1977, noting that whilst the northern section remains the best preserved, remnants of stone facing are still visible along the western and eastern sides, where the grass-covered banks appear to be the remains of former stone walls.
The interior of the enclosure contains evidence of at least two, and possibly three, dwelling structures. The largest house site occupies the northwest corner, built directly against the perimeter bank which forms its northern and western walls, whilst slight earthen and stone banks with traces of stone facing create its eastern and southern boundaries. A smaller rectangular hut sits against the eastern bank, with its own low earth and stone walls defining the remaining three sides and what appears to be an entrance at the southeast corner. Archaeological evidence suggests a third possible structure may have existed north of the eastern hut, though only partial wall foundations remain visible.
Positioned on the elevated eastern end of a small ridge surrounded by good pasture land, the site commanded strategic views across the landscape to the northwest, west and southwest, though the surrounding ridges block sightlines in other directions. Old field banks that intersect with the enclosure’s perimeter suggest the site’s integration into a broader agricultural landscape that continued to evolve long after its initial construction. Today, thorn trees partially obscure the perimeter, but the earthworks remain clearly defined, offering visitors a tangible connection to the people who once lived and worked within these protective walls.