Middlemount Moat — Middlemount

Known as the Mote of Monacoghlan or The Rath of Laragh, this Anglo-Norman earth and timber castle may have been built by Adam de Hereford(Cunningham 1987, 161-2). Situated on a natural hill in otherwise flat land, with excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Kilbreedy Castle (LA028-046---) visible to the NW. A flat-topped motte (summit diam. c. 11.5m; H c. 8-9m) encircled by a berm with the remains of a wide stone wall on its outer edge, except at SE. Slight evidence of a fosse around base of the berm. Ridge to the E may have been utilised as a bailey and possible remains of an outer bailey. (Orpen 1909, 335-7). Described by Carrigan as, 'the 'Moat of Middlemount', properly called the 'Moat of Laragh', a truncated cone 16 yards (16m) in diameter at the top, 25 to 30 ft. (8.7m-9.1m) high, and seated on an elevated ridge; around the base are remains of a fosse and rampart, while the ridge to the west is intersected by several artificial trenches (LA028-05002-)' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 61). An 18th century illustration of the motte and bailey depicts a very different monument to the one that survives today (Cunningham 1987, 162). Edward Ledwich in his 'Antiquities of Ireland', depicts the monument as consisting of a flat-topped mound or motte located at the N end of a ridge with an upper bailey the base of which is enclosed by a fosse except at SE where there is a lower second bailey the interior of which contains a well. This second outer bailey was entered via an entrance located on the E side of the bailey. A wall is depicted running off the SE side of the motte toears the outer bailey. The motte was located at the N end of a ridge and the SW side of this ridge was defended by three earthen banks or ramparts with corresponding fosses. The innermost bank appears to have enclosed the outer bailey (Ledwich 1804, 278-9). In 1905 Canon Carrigan recorded that on 'the north side of the Moat, about 20 yards from its base, is a plot, a quarter of an acre in extent, called "the Friar's garden"; its fences are still well marked. In the small space between it and the Moat, are some slight traces of a house, evidently the residence of the friar from whom the garden is named' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 61). These earthworks may be the remains of a deserted medieval settlement (LA028-050002-)associated with the motte and bailey. Ledwich, E. (1804) Antiquities of Ireland. Printed by John Jones, Dublin. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 12 December 2011