Mound, Ballyhohan, Co. Tipperary South
On a gently sloping hillside in the rolling pastures of Ballyhonan, County Tipperary South, stands a substantial earthen mound that has weathered centuries of Irish history.
Mound, Ballyhohan, Co. Tipperary South
The structure rises just over four metres from its oval base, which measures approximately 27 metres north to south and 20.5 metres east to west. Its flat summit, roughly 14 metres across in both directions, creates an almost perfect circle when viewed from above. The mound’s steep sides drop sharply to ground level, though time and human activity have taken their toll; the eastern face shows clear evidence of quarrying, whilst the southeastern quadrant has suffered considerable slippage, creating a more gradual incline.
Historical mapping provides intriguing clues about the mound’s original design. The 1906 Ordnance Survey map clearly shows a wide fosse, or defensive ditch, encircling the base on three sides, leaving only the southern approach undefended. Today, only traces of this feature remain visible in the northern quadrant, where a shallow depression about four metres wide and 30 centimetres deep marks where the ditch has largely silted up over the past century.
Whether this mound served as an ancient burial site, a Norman motte, or fulfilled some other defensive or ceremonial purpose remains a matter of speculation. Its commanding position on the south facing slope would have provided excellent views across the surrounding countryside, whilst its steep sides and surrounding ditch suggest it was built with defence in mind. The quarrying damage, whilst unfortunate for preservation, offers a unique glimpse into the mound’s internal structure, revealing the considerable engineering effort required to create such an imposing earthwork in the Irish landscape.