The site occupies gently rolling pastureland and takes the form of a roughly rectangular enclosure measuring about 32 metres east to west and 22 metres north to south. While the river itself forms the northern boundary, the other three sides are defined by a broad, shallow ditch or fosse that varies between 3.2 and 6 metres wide, though it’s now only 20 to 40 centimetres deep after centuries of silting and agricultural activity.

This type of moated site is characteristic of Anglo-Norman settlement patterns in medieval Ireland, typically dating from the 13th to 14th centuries. These enclosed farmsteads served both defensive and drainage purposes; the surrounding water-filled ditches deterred casual raiders whilst also helping to manage the boggy Irish landscape. The rectangular shape and substantial size of the Maws enclosure suggest it once contained a reasonably prosperous farmstead, possibly including a timber hall, agricultural buildings and storage structures.

Today, the site shows the typical wear of centuries of farming, with a modern drainage channel cutting across its southern boundary in a northeast to southwest direction. Despite these later intrusions, the basic footprint of this medieval settlement remains clearly visible in the landscape, offering a glimpse into how Norman colonists adapted their agricultural practices to the Irish countryside. The site was formally documented by archaeologist Gearóid Conroy in 2011, ensuring its features are preserved in the historical record even as farming continues around it.