What is recorded here

Moatfield holds the inauguration site of the O’Farrall clan, where new chiefs faced the danger of office before gaining power. In 1475 Seán Ó Fearghail died immediately after his feast, turning celebration into a funeral road toward Abbeylara. The ground remembers that swearing an oath could also be a final act.

National Monument No. 263. The motte and bailey (LF010-080001-) is almost certainly the location of the inauguration place of O’Farrall clan (Bradley et al. 1985, 16; FitzPatrick 2004, 209). In 1475 Seán Ó Fearghail, Chief of Annaly, died here immediately after his inauguration feast and he was subsequently buried at the Cistercian abbey (LF011-036001-) in Abbeylara (Farrell 1891, 24). In 1489 the Lord Justice of Ireland divided the chieftainship of Annaly between the sons of Seán and the sons of Cathal (Farrell 1891, 24). Following the division of the sept and lands c. 1516, the O’Farralls (Bán) held the lordship of N Annaly, an area corresponding to the N and E of the modern county Longford (FitzPatrick 2004, 209), and retained the motte and bailey, Ráith Granaird (Granard), as their inauguration site. (Westropp 1904, 323-4; Kearney 1969, 18-23; English 1971, 152; Anon. 2002b, 144-5) Compiled by: Patrick F. O'Donovan, Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 April 2012

This site is associated with the inauguration rituals of the O’Farrall clan, a Gaelic family prominent in medieval Ireland. The motte and bailey served as a ceremonial location, reflecting the tradition of using elevated earthworks for the symbolic installation of chieftains.

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