The enclosure measures 57 metres from east to west and 45 metres from north to south, defined by an earthen bank that rises about 70 centimetres on the inside and 85 centimetres on the outside. A defensive ditch, or fosse, runs around the exterior of the bank, reaching depths of around 90 centimetres. The single entrance, just over 3 metres wide, breaks through the eastern side of the enclosure at its midpoint.

The site shows clear signs of modification over the centuries. The southern and western sections of the fosse appear to have been deliberately deepened at some point, with the excavated soil piled onto the adjacent bank to increase its height. Meanwhile, the eastern ditch has been partially filled in, possibly through natural silting or deliberate infilling, whilst the northern section remains largely unchanged from its original construction. These variations in preservation offer valuable insights into how the site was used and maintained during its active period.

Moated sites like this one at Fortlands were typically constructed during the Anglo-Norman period in Ireland, serving as fortified homesteads for colonising families. The combination of bank and ditch provided both defensive capabilities and drainage for the enclosed area, where timber buildings would have stood. Today, the site lies quietly in farmland along the western edge of the townland boundary, its grassy banks offering a tangible connection to Cork’s medieval past.