Why this matters
Motte-and-bailey castle, medieval period (11th–13th centuries). Its significance lies in the defensive architecture typical of Norman and early Anglo-Irish settlements in Ireland.
Overview
Mote — Ballymacwilliam is recorded as Mound in Offaly. Circular steep-sided mound (H 2.9m, Diam at top c. 14m) with wide fosse (max. c. 1.50m) around on all but W side where it has been filled in.
Who made it and when
The saved account records: In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
How it was made and used
The saved account records: Bulldozed in the mid-1980s, animal bones were found within it, and ash spreads with charcoal were found both within and around the mound.
What was found
The saved account records: At the SE of the motte there appeared to be a very large bailey defined by a fosse on one side and a scarp on the other visited 13-06-91 and found to have been levelled.
What remains
The saved account records: No surface trace visible of levelled mound depicted on OS 6-inch map as a subcircular shaped mound.
Why it mattered
Mote — Ballymacwilliam matters because the source ties mound to this exact landscape and preserves evidence that a bare map name loses. The saved account adds: Local landowner described the site as a circular mound (approx.
History checked 15 August 2026 against the named sources below.
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