The site at Knocknoran appears today as a rectangular grassy area, measuring roughly 27 metres east to west and 26 metres north to south, defined by a low earthen bank along its northern edge. This modest bank, standing only about 30 centimetres high and spanning 1.5 metres wide, might not seem particularly impressive at first glance, but it marks the boundaries of what was likely once a fortified settlement.

The northern and western sides of the site still show traces of what were probably defensive ditches or moats; these shallow depressions measure 7 metres and 8 metres wide respectively. A farm road now cuts across the southern boundary, but the overall rectangular footprint remains clearly visible in the landscape. Local tradition has long recognised the significance of this spot, with residents referring to it as ‘the rath field’, though the earthwork may actually represent something rather different from a typical ringfort.

Archaeological evidence suggests this could be the location of the lost Ballyharty castle, or perhaps a moated site; a type of medieval settlement particularly common in the Anglo-Norman territories of Ireland. These moated sites typically date from the 13th and 14th centuries and were often home to lesser nobility or prosperous farming families who wanted some defensive capabilities without the expense of a full stone castle. The flat, low-lying terrain here would have been ideal for such a settlement, allowing the creation of water-filled moats that provided both defence and a ready source of fish for the table.