This substantial motte measures 25 metres across at its base and tapers to a flattened summit roughly 14 metres in diameter. The top shows a slight dish-shaped depression, though there’s no sign of the defensive ditch, or fosse, that typically surrounded such structures. The mound now serves as home to a grove of deciduous trees, their roots likely helping to preserve the earthwork’s shape whilst adding a layer of natural camouflage to this medieval fortification.

The motte forms part of a broader medieval landscape that hints at Coolbunnia’s strategic importance. Just adjacent to the east lies the site of a tower house, whilst Faithleg church stands about 240 metres to the north. These clustered defensive and religious structures suggest this was once a significant local power centre, controlling the surrounding countryside from its elevated position. The proximity of both military and ecclesiastical buildings points to the complex relationship between secular and religious authority in medieval Ireland.

Local memory preserves intriguing details about the area’s past. The field immediately north of the motte is still known as ‘the village’, and during land reclamation work, red brick was discovered there; evidence of a settlement that once flourished in the shadow of the mound. This oral history, combined with the physical remains, paints a picture of a once-bustling community that has since returned to farmland, leaving only the imposing earthwork and place names to mark its existence.