Moated site, Kyleaglanna, Co. Tipperary South
In the gently sloping pastures of Kyleaglanna, County Tipperary South, the remains of what appears to be an ancient enclosure lie quietly integrated into the modern farming landscape.
Moated site, Kyleaglanna, Co. Tipperary South
This sub-rectangular earthwork, measuring roughly 33 metres east to west and 32 metres north to south, is defined by the remnants of a levelled bank that once stood more prominently. The bank, which has a width of 10 metres at its top and spreads to about 16.5 metres overall, can still be traced along the southern and western sides, though the eastern section has suffered some disturbance over the centuries. Today, the bank rises just 30 centimetres on the interior side and a mere 15 centimetres on the exterior; modest heights that hint at its once more substantial presence.
The site’s defensive or drainage features remain visible in the form of a fosse-like ditch running along the western edge, measuring 2 metres wide at its base and expanding to 6 metres overall, though it’s now only about 20 centimetres deep. To the north, a modern hedgerow field boundary has incorporated the monument’s original limits, creating an interesting blend of ancient and contemporary land management. The interior surface shows an uneven texture, crossed by vehicle tracks from its current use as pasture, evidence of how this historical site continues to serve practical agricultural purposes.
What makes this location particularly intriguing is its proximity to two moated sites, located approximately 96 metres to the west and 125 metres to the southwest. This cluster of earthworks suggests the area held significant importance in medieval times, possibly as part of a larger defensive or agricultural complex. First identified through aerial photography in 1974, the site now forms part of the working countryside, with cattle grazing where medieval inhabitants once lived and worked, a testament to Ireland’s layered historical landscape where past and present coexist in the same fields.





