Moated site, Garranacanty, Co. Tipperary South
In the gently sloping pastures of Garranacanty, County Tipperary South, lies a fascinating earthwork monument that offers a glimpse into Ireland's medieval past.
Moated site, Garranacanty, Co. Tipperary South
This moated site, first spotted from above in aerial photographs taken in 1966 and 1969, reveals itself as a substantial rectangular enclosure measuring roughly 51 metres on its southern side and 46 metres to the west. The site’s defensive features are still clearly visible today, with earthen banks rising up to 9 metres wide and reaching heights of 0.7 metres on the exterior, whilst the northern and eastern boundaries are marked by pronounced scarps.
What makes this monument particularly intriguing is its sophisticated defensive layout, complete with an external fosse, or ditch, that varies considerably in character around the perimeter. Along the southern edge, this fosse cuts deep and distinctive at 0.8 metres, whilst to the north it spreads wide but shallow, measuring 14 metres across but only 0.35 metres deep. The interior space remains level and largely clear, suggesting it once housed structures or served as a protected area for medieval activities. Archaeological surveys have identified possible annexes extending from the main enclosure; one to the north, though now truncated by a modern field boundary, and another adjoining the western side, traced by the subtle remains of scarps and the continuation of the fosse.
The site doesn’t stand alone in this landscape. Another moated site sits immediately to the north, whilst earthworks scatter the area to the northeast, suggesting this was once a significant settlement complex. A possible leat or dried watercourse running north to south from the northwest corner hints at water management systems that would have been essential for daily life. Together, these features paint a picture of a well-planned medieval settlement, likely dating from the Anglo-Norman period when such moated sites were commonly constructed across Ireland as fortified homesteads for wealthy landowners or as administrative centres.





