Moated site, Mooresfort, Co. Tipperary South

Moated site, Mooresfort, Co. Tipperary South

In the gently rolling countryside of Mooresfort, County Tipperary South, lies the remnants of a medieval moated site, its rectangular earthworks still visible in what is now improved pasture land.

Moated site, Mooresfort, Co. Tipperary South

The site measures approximately 14 metres north to south and 18 metres east to west, and is defined by a complex system of three concentric banks and ditches, known as a trivallate enclosure. The innermost bank, though now largely levelled, can still be traced along its southern side for about 16 metres, with sections also visible to the east and west. This bank originally stood about 4 metres wide, though time and agriculture have reduced its height to a mere 20 centimetres above the interior ground level.

The defensive ditches, or fosses, that once protected this site remain partially intact, particularly along the eastern, southern, and western sides. The inner fosse measures roughly 3.5 metres across at its widest point, though it’s now only about 20 centimetres deep; its original depth would have been considerably greater. Fragments of the middle and outer defensive rings survive primarily on the eastern side, where short sections of both banks and their accompanying ditches can still be observed. The middle bank stretches for about 8 metres, whilst the outermost bank extends for just 5 metres, each with its own protective ditch.



The interior of the enclosure slopes gently towards the north and shows no obvious features today, though archaeological excavation might reveal evidence of buildings or other structures that once stood within these protective earthworks. A modern field drain has unfortunately truncated parts of the monument, particularly affecting the northern section where it may have destroyed traces of the inner bank. Despite these alterations, the site remains an intriguing example of medieval defensive architecture, likely dating from the Anglo-Norman period when such moated sites were commonly constructed to protect manor houses or small settlements in the Irish countryside.

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Mooresfort, Co. Tipperary South
52.44883996, -8.28465626
52.44883996,-8.28465626
Mooresfort 
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