Moated site, Trienearagh, Co. Kerry
In the countryside of Trienearagh, County Kerry, lies what remains of a medieval moated site that once stood as a rectangular enclosure.
Moated site, Trienearagh, Co. Kerry
The 1939 Ordnance Survey map clearly marks this feature, suggesting it was still recognisable as a distinct archaeological site in the early twentieth century. Today, however, time and agricultural activity have taken their toll; the enclosure has been almost completely levelled, leaving only a small section of the earthen bank visible to keen observers.
Moated sites like this one were typically constructed during the medieval period, often serving as fortified homesteads for Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous farming families. The rectangular shape and surrounding bank would have originally formed a defensive perimeter, possibly filled with water to create a moat, though drainage and centuries of farming have long since erased any trace of such features. These sites are scattered throughout Ireland, particularly in areas that saw significant Anglo-Norman settlement during the 12th and 13th centuries.
The archaeological record at Trienearagh, whilst fragmentary, offers a glimpse into Kerry’s medieval landscape. The fact that the enclosure was substantial enough to appear on maps well into the 20th century suggests it was once a significant local feature, perhaps housing a manor house or fortified farm. Today’s visitors will need a trained eye to spot the remaining earthwork, but for those interested in Ireland’s medieval past, even these subtle traces in the landscape tell an important story about how people lived, farmed, and defended their homes centuries ago.