First recorded on the 1841 Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, this almost square enclosure measures approximately 30 metres from northeast to southwest at its widest point. Today, a modern field wall cuts across the eastern edge of the site, and centuries of agricultural activity have erased any visible traces from the ground surface.

Moated sites like this one were a common feature of the medieval Irish landscape, particularly during the 13th and 14th centuries when Anglo-Norman settlers established fortified farmsteads throughout the countryside. These defensive earthworks typically consisted of a raised platform surrounded by a water-filled ditch, which would have protected a timber hall or tower house at the centre. The moat served both as a status symbol and a practical defence against cattle raids and local disputes, rather than full-scale military attacks.

Though nothing remains visible at Kilrory today, the site’s presence on early Ordnance Survey maps provides valuable evidence of medieval settlement patterns in County Laois. These maps, created during the most comprehensive cartographic survey of Ireland in the 19th century, often captured archaeological features that have since been lost to modern farming. The site was formally documented in the Archaeological Inventory of County Laois in 1995, ensuring its place in the historical record even as its physical presence continues to fade from the landscape.