Mottes and Moated Sites / Mhóta agus Láithreacha Mótaithe

Ogulla, Co. Roscommon

A moated site at Ogulla, Co. Roscommon. This example was possibly built by a Gaelic lord and would have had impressive timber building within it

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Ogulla, Co. Roscommon
Courtesy of Con Brogan

Ogulla, Co. Roscommon

A moated site at Ogulla, Co. Roscommon. This example was possibly built by a Gaelic lord and would have had impressive timber building within it

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Enlarge image

Some of the earliest castles built by the Anglo-Normans in the late twelfth century were made of timber and many of these were motte-and-bailey castles. The motte, a large flat-topped earthen mound, would originally have had a strong wooden tower and a timber palisade around the edge of the top. There is often evidence of a lower defended enclosure attached to the motte, and this is known as a bailey. In certain areas, Anglo-Norman settlers constructed rectangular moated sites to enclose their houses and outbuildings. The ditch or fosse is wide and flatbottomed and often formerly contained water for added defence. Some moated sites in Connacht were built by Gaelic lords around 1300 AD.

Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary

The impressive motte and bailey at Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary
Courtesy of Con Brogan

Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary

The impressive motte and bailey at Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Enlarge image

Ás Gaeilge:

Bhí na caisleáin ba thúisce a thóg na hAngla-Normannaigh go déanach sa dara haois déag déanta d’adhmad agus caisleáin mhóta agus bhábhún ab ea cuid mhór acu. Sa chéad dul síos bhíodh túr láidir adhmaid agus pailis adhmaid thart ar imeall bharr an mhóta, carn mór cré le barr cothrom. Is minic a bhíonn fianaise ann go mbíodh imfhálú íseal cosanta ceangailte leis an móta. Bábhún a thugtar air. I gceantair áirithe, thóg na lonnaitheoirí Angla- Normannacha láithreacha dronuilleagacha mótaithe chun a dtithe srl a imfhálú. Tá an díog leathan agus bun cothrom air agus bhíodh uisce istigh ann a thug cosaint sa bhreis. Tiarnaí Gaelacha a thóg cuid de na láithreacha mótaithe i gConnachta thart ar 1300 AD.