This square enclosure, measuring 35 metres on each side, is defined by an earth and stone bank that still rises to an impressive 1.5 metres in places. The site’s defensive character is enhanced by a fosse, or ditch, running along the northern, southern and eastern sides, though time has reduced its depth to about half a metre.

The eastern side features the site’s original entrance, a 4-metre-wide gap in the bank with a causeway crossing the ditch, allowing access to the interior. On the western side, the ancient earthwork has been incorporated into a more recent field fence, showing how these historical features continue to shape the modern landscape. The interior of the enclosure remains level, suggesting it once provided a platform for buildings, though any structures have long since vanished.

Moated sites like this one typically date from the 13th to 14th centuries and were often associated with Anglo-Norman settlement in Ireland. They served as defended farmsteads for colonists or prosperous farmers, offering protection for both people and livestock during uncertain times. While not as grand as a castle, these earthwork enclosures were practical fortifications that dotted the medieval Irish countryside, particularly in areas of English influence like County Cork.