Moated site, Knockkelly, Co. Tipperary South
In the flat terrain of a valley near Knockkelly, County Tipperary, lies the subtle remains of a medieval moated site that has been under cultivation since the 1970s.
Moated site, Knockkelly, Co. Tipperary South
Situated at the base of a gentle north-facing slope, this large enclosure stretches 75 metres from north to south, though centuries of farming have completely levelled most of its physical features. What remains visible today depends largely on the season and growing conditions; during certain times of year, aerial photographs reveal the ghostly outline of the eastern fosse as a cropmark, its 5 to 6 metre width still discernible in the patterns of crop growth.
The site’s layout becomes clearer when examining historical Ordnance Survey maps from the 25-inch series, which document features no longer visible on the ground. These maps show that only the eastern half of the enclosure retained any substantial remains by the time of surveying, with a bank running along the southern portion of the east side and continuing along the entire south side. An outer fosse accompanied these earthworks, becoming waterlogged in the southeast and southern sections, suggesting it may have served as a defensive water feature when the site was occupied.
Within the southeast sector of the main enclosure, the OS maps reveal an intriguing internal division: a sub-rectangular inner enclosure measuring approximately 24 metres north to south and 35 metres east to west. This smaller space was defined by banks on its north and west sides, whilst the main monument’s banks formed its eastern and southern boundaries, creating a protected inner compound. Another enclosure, catalogued as TS062-125, can be found about 80 metres to the south-southeast, hinting at a broader medieval landscape of settlement and land management in this part of Tipperary.





