Indicated

Located on a shelf towards the bottom of a N-facing slope and c. 300m N of a W-E section of the River Fane. It is also c. 200m S of the site of St Daigh’s early monastery (MO029-031001-). This is a flat-topped conical mound (diam. of top 13.6m E-W; 11m N-S; H c. 8m). The base is surrounded by a flat-bottomed fosse (at SW: Wth of top c. 3m; D c. 0.5m) SE-W-NE and an outer earth and stone bank. There is a small enclosure (diam. 7.8m E-W) defined by a broad earthen bank (at W: Wth of base 2.2m; int. H 0.5m) with an entrance at E (Wth 1.5m) on top towards the W edge of the summit. The bailey is a circular grass-covered area (diam. 35.6m E-W; 33.5m N-S) just to the E defined by a scarp (at NE: Wth 5.5m; H 2m) that merges into the slope E-S-W. The motte is planted in mature beech with alder and ash. There is reputed to be a Man-made underground passage (MO029-032001-) in the base of the mound. Archaeological testing (08E0358) c. 140m to the E produced no related material. (Clarke 2011) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of revision: 29 August 2017 Amended: 16 January 2020

Candlefort is believed to have been built during the early medieval period, likely by a local Gaelic lord or religious community, given its proximity to the early monastery of St Daigh. Its location suggests it may have served a defensive or strategic role in the region.