Moated site, Lisnevagh,Tobinstown, Co. Carlow
In the townland of Lisnevagh, Tobinstown, County Carlow, the remains of a medieval moated site reveal centuries of careful water management and defensive planning.
Moated site, Lisnevagh,Tobinstown, Co. Carlow
The rectangular area is defined by a stone-faced fosse, now thick with rushes, forming the southern and western boundaries. The northern edge follows the old townland boundary, whilst another structure marks the eastern side. Within this enclosed space, the foundations of a tower can still be traced in the northeast quadrant, suggesting this was once a fortified residence of some importance.
What makes this site particularly interesting is its sophisticated water system. A deep leat, also choked with rushes, runs parallel to the fosse but remains separated from it by an earthen causeway. This artificial channel demonstrates remarkable engineering; it carries water southeast towards the Derreen River, where it splits into two branches. One branch curves north to rejoin the river above a weir, whilst the southern branch reconnects below it, effectively creating a controlled water flow around the weir structure.
This type of moated site was typical of Anglo-Norman settlements in medieval Ireland, serving both defensive and agricultural purposes. The moat would have provided protection whilst also managing water for mills, fishponds, or irrigation. The presence of the tower foundations suggests this was likely the home of a minor lord or wealthy tenant farmer during the 13th or 14th centuries, when such fortified farmsteads dotted the Irish landscape. Today, though overgrown and quietly returning to nature, the earthworks still clearly show the ambitions of those who once shaped this corner of Carlow to their needs.