This sub-rectangular enclosure measures roughly 30 metres north to south and 24 metres east to west, defined by substantial earthworks that would have once protected whatever structures stood within. The earthen bank rises half a metre on the interior side, whilst presenting a more formidable face of nearly two metres to anyone approaching from outside. A defensive fosse, or ditch, runs around the perimeter, adding another 0.7 metres of depth to the site’s defences.

The original entrance remains evident at the southwest corner, where a 3.2-metre-wide gap in the bank aligns with a causeway that crosses the fosse, allowing access to the interior. A later field boundary, running east to west, now cuts across the ancient ditch before meeting the western section of the bank; a reminder of how agricultural practices have overlaid these medieval landscapes. The site’s interior remains level, dry, and remarkably clear of overgrowth, making it easier to appreciate the layout and scale of this defensive enclosure.

Moated sites like this one were typically constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries, often serving as fortified farmsteads for Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous Irish families. The substantial earthworks at Killaghteen suggest it was home to someone of considerable means, though without excavation, the exact nature of the buildings that once stood within these protective banks remains a matter of speculation. An aerial photograph taken in October 2002 provides a bird’s eye view of the site, revealing the clear outline of the moat and banks that might otherwise be difficult to fully appreciate from ground level.