Castle - motte

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the summit of a high hill, in pasture, with extensive views in all directions. Enclosure (WM020-046----) lies c. 62m to ESE. Depicted on the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map as a roughly oval-shaped earthwork with an OS trig. point marking 503 ft. OD in the centre. According to Adams (1959, 57), a ‘mote’ is situated on Sion Hill and again Adams (1960, 25-26) references ‘an artificial platform on the highest point of Sion Hill’. Monument described in 1970 as a roughly circular-shaped earthen platform (approx. diam. 20m) defined by a high, steep-sided scarp (approx. H 2.3m). There is no visible trace of a fosse or an outer bank. A portion of the scarp has been quarried away from E-S leaving a slightly concave indent in the perimeter. The original entrance is not visible. The top of the platform has a very gentle WSW-facing slope. Within the centre is a low circular mound of earth and stones that supports an OS triangulation station. Monument is visible as a suboval-shaped earthwork on Digital Globe aerial photography.
Classification of this monument is uncertain, the flat-topped platform and gently sloping sides of the monument suggests that this may be the remains of a prehistoric burial mound or an Anglo-Norman motte. Hilltop location may suggest that this was a burial mound rather than an Anglo-Norman motte, however flat topped platform would point towards motte castle classification or medieval raised rath/ringfort.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 04 July 2019

References

Adams, F.R.G. 1960 Killucan-some remarks on its prehistory and history. Ríocht na Mídhe 2 (2), 23-34.

Adams, F.R.G. 1959 Castletown-Delvin roundabout. Ríocht na Mídhe II (1), 51-61.