Moated site, Glengar, Co. Tipperary South

Co. Tipperary |

Castle Features

Moated site, Glengar, Co. Tipperary South

On the foothills of Gortnageragh Mountain in County Tipperary, a curious earthwork sits on a poorly drained south-facing slope, offering sweeping views across the Cahernahallia river valley.

This possible moated site takes the form of a sub-rectangular enclosure measuring approximately 30 metres north to south and 37 metres east to west. The defining feature is a substantial flat-topped bank, roughly 2.3 metres wide at the top and 4.5 metres at its base, which rises between half a metre and a full metre above the interior ground level, whilst standing 1.5 metres high when viewed from outside.

Beyond this bank lies a waterlogged external fosse, or defensive ditch, spanning 3.2 metres in width and reaching a depth of about one metre. Along the western side, traces of an external bank remain visible, though this may simply be the remnants of a more recent field boundary rather than part of the original defensive works. The remarkably fresh appearance of both the bank and fosse suggests either exceptional preservation or possible later modification; such pristine conditions are sometimes found in landscape features, particularly tree-rings.

The site's proximity to Glengar House, located just 150 metres to the east, raises intriguing questions about its history and purpose. While it may date back to medieval times as a genuine moated site, there's also the possibility that it was either constructed or significantly recut as an ornamental landscape feature associated with the house. This ambiguity adds to the mystery of the earthwork, leaving visitors to ponder whether they're looking at an authentic medieval fortification or a later attempt to create a romantic historical feature in the landscape.

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