Castle - motte, Lavagh, Co. Cavan

Co. Cavan |

Mottes & Baileys

Castle – motte, Lavagh, Co. Cavan

Hidden among the trees of a plantation in Lavagh, County Cavan, stands an impressive medieval earthwork that once formed part of the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland.

This castle motte is a circular artificial mound rising about 3.5 metres high, with steep sides that would have made it formidable to any would-be attackers. The base stretches approximately 28 metres across, whilst the flat summit measures around 22 metres from north to south, providing just enough space for what would have originally been a wooden tower or small stone keep.

The motte is surrounded by a defensive ditch, or fosse, which remains particularly well-preserved along the northern sections from northwest through to east-northeast. Whilst the eastern and southeastern portions of the ditch have largely disappeared over the centuries, you can still trace their faint outlines in the landscape. A modern laneway now curves around the southern edge of the monument, from south-southeast to west, offering visitors an easy path to view this historic fortification.

One of the most intriguing features documented at the site is a fragment of mortared masonry built against the outer edge of the ditch at the northwest corner. Recorded during a 1970 survey, this stonework may have been part of a bridge that once connected the motte to 'Holywell House', which stood about 25 metres to the east-northeast. The entire monument has been protected under a preservation order since 1976, ensuring this remarkable piece of Norman military architecture remains intact for future generations to explore and study.

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Pete F
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