Moated site in Curraghleigh (dolla Par.)

Situated on a level break in the lower slope of a ridge with higher ground rising above the site. The ground is wet and marshy and there is a fast-flowing river roughly c. 50m W of the site and a spring or stream bubbling c.10m S of SW corner. Two other moated sites are nearby, one (TN027-114) to the NW and a second (TN027-113) further away to the NNE. A roughly square-shaped site (dims. 31.3m N-S) defined by a bank (Wth 4m; int. H 0.71m; ext. H 1.46m) and slight outer fosse (Wth 5m; D 0.2m). The banks are completely overgrown with dense gorse making examinaton impossible. The interior is waterlogged and rushy. Portion of the site was 'excavated' in the mid-nineteenth century revealing a large worked horizontal oak beam (dims. 5.5m; 0.5m x 0.42m) 0.6m below the surface of the fosse with four mortices visible. The excavator suggested that this beam may have been part of a wooden causeway or draw-bridge. A groat of Queen Mary was also retrieved from the site (D'Alton 1852-3, 366-7). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008