Why this matters
Built in the late 12th or early 13th century, likely by Anglo-Norman settlers expanding into Munster. The site is important as a strategic defensive structure controlling key river crossings and trade routes in the region.
What is recorded here
Situated on a natural hill overlooking the floodplain of the W-E Blackwater River with the stream c. 150m to the N. The motte is a flat-topped mound (diam. of top 13m; diam. of base 40m; H 7.5m at S to 10m at SW) with a subrectangular bailey (dims. 34m N-S; 19.5m E-W at N to 10m E-W at S) attached to the S. The bailey is raised 5m over a flat-bottomed fosse (Wth of base c. 3m; ext. D 1.7m). Both are surrounded by an earthen bank (Wth c. 7m; max. ext. H 5m) except at E where there is a natural cliff-edge (Anon. 1897, 271-2). It is planted with deciduous trees.
Anon. (1897) Proceedings, JRSAI 27, 270-72.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 23 December 2008
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