Moated site, Kilmore, Co. Cork
In the countryside near Kilmore, County Cork, a curious square enclosure sits about 90 metres east of the River Maigue.
Moated site, Kilmore, Co. Cork
This moated site, measuring roughly 20 metres on each side, has been quietly marking its place in the landscape for centuries. Historical Ordnance Survey maps from 1842, 1904 and 1936 all show this small fortification, suggesting it held enough significance to warrant repeated documentation by cartographers over nearly a century.
While the landowner currently refuses permission for visits, aerial photography from 1977 reveals the enclosure still standing proud above ground level, its square outline clearly visible from above. The photographs also show something rather intriguing; a gently curving field boundary that connects the enclosure directly to the river, possibly indicating an old access route or water management system that once served the site.
These moated sites are scattered throughout Ireland and typically date from the medieval period, when Anglo-Norman settlers and Gaelicised families built defended homesteads across the countryside. The square shape and proximity to water are classic features of such sites, which often consisted of a raised platform surrounded by a water-filled ditch or moat. Though this particular example remains on private land and inaccessible to the public, its persistent appearance on maps spanning three centuries speaks to its endurance as a feature of the North Cork landscape.