Moat & Castle — Moatfarrell

At the NE end of a low, prominent, NE-SW running ridge with commanding views in all directions. In the late 1970s traces of a possible stone kerb were identified running around the base of the motte on the W side (Manning 1976, 162). Its presence suggests the motte may incorporate the site of a prehistoric burial mound, which was refortified by the Anglo-Normans (Fitzpatrick 2004, 94). The monument is traditionally held to be the inauguration place (LF014-050001-) of the O'Farralls, prior to their split into two factions c. 1516. After this date the O'Farralls (Buí) of S Annaly may have continued to use it for inauguration and assembly purposes (ibid., 65–6). The motte is an oval-shaped, high, steep-sided flat-topped mound of earth and stone (H c. 9m; dims. at base c. 34m NW-SE; c. 30m NE-SW). Upon its summit (19.6m NW-SE; 11.6m NE-SW) are an OS trigonometrical station and the grass-covered remains of a collapsed stone building, which may be the remains of a possible O’Farrell castle (LF014-050002-). The motte has been quarried into at SW. From W-NW-NNW it is encircled by a partially rock-cut, wide, deep fosse (Wth 5.7m; D 1.2m) with a very wide, very high external bank of earth and stone (Wth 20.6m; H 7m), which utilises the natural slope of the hill. Adjoining the motte from SSW-SW-W is a large subrectangular bailey (52.3m NE-SW; 31m NW-SE) defined by a bank, now reduced to a scarp (H 0.9 1.4m), with traces of an external fosse. There is evidence of a possible entrance gap in the centre of the bank along the W side. There is no dividing fosse between the motte and the bailey. The remains of a series of small fields with evidence of ridge and furrow cultivation, of unkown date, are visible in the field to the SSE. A ringfort (LF014-120----) lies c. 130m to the N, a moated site (LF014-051----) c. 380m to the E, and a church (LF014-058001-) and graveyard (LF014-058002-) c. 750m to the SSE. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 March 2012