This rectangular earthwork, measuring approximately 60 metres by 40 metres, is surrounded by a water-filled moat that once served as both a defensive barrier and a status symbol for its inhabitants. The site likely dates from the 13th or 14th century, when Anglo-Norman settlers and prosperous Irish families constructed these fortified homesteads across the landscape.

The raised platform within the moat would have supported a timber hall and associated buildings, creating a self-contained settlement for a family of moderate wealth. Unlike the grand stone castles of the nobility, moated sites represented the homes of lesser landowners; farmers, merchants, and minor officials who could afford some protection but not the expense of stone fortifications. The moat itself, typically three to four metres wide, deterred casual raiders whilst the elevated position provided clear views across the surrounding farmland.

Today, the site remains remarkably well-preserved, with the earthen banks still clearly defined and portions of the moat retaining water, particularly during wetter months. Archaeological evidence from similar sites suggests that Earlsrath would have been surrounded by cultivated fields, orchards, and grazing land, forming the heart of a working agricultural estate. These moated sites, once numbering in the hundreds across counties Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Cork, now serve as important archaeological monuments that help us understand the social hierarchy and settlement patterns of medieval Ireland.