Moated site, Ticroghan, Co. Meath
The moated site at Ticroghan in County Meath presents a fascinating glimpse into medieval Ireland's defensive architecture.
Moated site, Ticroghan, Co. Meath
This rectangular, grass-covered platform measures 40 metres north to south and 33 metres east to west, surrounded by water-filled ditches that once served as formidable barriers. The moats vary considerably in their preservation; those on the eastern and southern sides have become heavily silted over the centuries, whilst the western and northern sections remain more substantial, with the western moat reaching depths of 2.4 metres and spanning 12.5 metres across at its widest point.
The site’s defensive features suggest careful medieval planning, with an outer bank surviving along the western perimeter that extends the protected area to roughly 71 by 70 metres. A subtle depression in the southern moat’s inner edge, measuring about 2 metres wide at its base, likely marks the original entrance to the enclosure. This would have been the controlled access point, possibly featuring a wooden bridge or causeway that could be removed or destroyed in times of threat.
Within the interior, several shallow, grass-covered quarries dot the landscape, ranging from 4 to 8 metres in diameter. These old excavations, now barely half a metre deep at most, were probably dug to extract material for construction or maintenance of the site’s earthworks. Such moated sites were typically built by Anglo-Norman settlers or Gaelicised lords during the 13th and 14th centuries, serving as fortified farmsteads or minor manor houses that combined residential, agricultural, and defensive functions in Ireland’s often turbulent medieval landscape.





