The large conical mound, with its distinctive flat top, measures 70 metres north to south and 58 metres east to west at its base, whilst the summit spans approximately 29 metres by 27 metres. Though no historical records document its construction, the motte was likely built by Maurice Fitzgerald after he received Naas as a grant from Strongbow, the Norman lord who led the invasion of Ireland in 1170.

The site may have deeper roots than its Norman origins suggest. According to historical sources, this elevated position could mark the location of a pre-Norman fort; the ‘Dún’ of Naas, which appears in Irish annals as early as 705 AD. This would mean the Normans deliberately chose an already significant defensive site for their own military purposes, a common practice that allowed them to assert dominance whilst capitalising on existing strategic positions.

Today, the motte remains a prominent feature of the Naas landscape, though much altered by time and modern development. The mound’s sides are sharply scarped on the northeast, east, and southern faces, likely enhanced over centuries for defensive purposes. A modern house and garden now occupy the summit, with steps leading down the eastern side providing access. Interestingly, historical records suggest this wasn’t the only motte in medieval Naas; a second one, known as the ‘South Moat’, may have once stood at the southern end of the town, though it has since vanished from the landscape.