Moated site, Kilbraugh, Co. Tipperary South

Moated site, Kilbraugh, Co. Tipperary South

On the north-facing slope of rising ground in County Tipperary South, the remains of a medieval moated site at Kilbraugh offer a glimpse into Ireland's defensive agricultural past.

Moated site, Kilbraugh, Co. Tipperary South

This rectangular enclosure, measuring approximately 36 metres north to south and 27 metres east to west, sits in what is now arable farmland with commanding views across the surrounding countryside. The strategic positioning on elevated ground would have provided early warning of approaching visitors or threats, a crucial advantage in medieval times.

The site’s history becomes more intriguing when considering its condition before modern agricultural practices took their toll. When archaeologists inspected the monument in 1956, they documented a more substantial structure; a small rectangular enclosure with internal dimensions of 60 metres by 40 metres, surrounded by an earthen bank that stood 0.9 metres high and measured 2 metres wide at its base. This defensive earthwork would have been typical of medieval moated sites, which served as fortified farmsteads for Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous Irish families during the 13th and 14th centuries.



Unfortunately, the same year as the archaeological inspection, a land improvement scheme dramatically altered the site’s appearance. The levelling work, common during Ireland’s mid-20th century agricultural modernisation, reduced the once-prominent earthen banks to barely visible outlines in the landscape. Today, visitors need a keen eye to spot the subtle rectangular depression that marks where this medieval fortification once stood, a reminder of how quickly historical landscapes can be transformed by modern farming practices.

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Kilbraugh, Co. Tipperary South
52.65192504, -7.56870431
52.65192504,-7.56870431
Kilbraugh 
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