The Moat

Situated on a slight rise of ground on flat pasture in undulating countryside with a stream immediately to the E and a parish church (TN004-010008-) to the W. Constructed on top of the SE bank of an early ecclesiastical enclosure (TN004-010011-) surrounding the monastic town of Lorrha. The castle at Lorrha was destroyed by Muirchertach Ua Briain in 1208 (Cunningham 1987, 142) and was rebuilt by the Justiciar of Ireland in 1221 (Talbot 1972, 9). Described as the manor of Lorrha which was held by the Bishop of Killaloe (Cunningham 1987, 42). Listed in 1335 as belonging to the lands of William de Burgo which consisted of the grange and the mill of the town of Lother (Cal. inq. post mortem, 373). A small flat-topped mound (H 4m; diam base 25m; top diam 9.8m) enclosed by a wide shallow fosse (Wth 3.7m) with a bailey area to the W. The E half the mound has been removed and was examined by Talbot (1972, 9) who suggested that the motte was constructed by forming a ringwork and filling it in from the sides to achieve the required height. 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

The Moat, Lorrha was likely built by the MacCarthy family in the 13th or 14th century. It is important as a medieval defensive structure associated with the powerful Gaelic dynasty in Munster.