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Castlemore Moat
Ráth an Chaisleáin Mhóir
2002.09.01-1A.CastlemoreTullow.jpg
Castlemore Moat is located in Ireland
Castlemore Moat
Location in Ireland
Alternative name Castlemore Castle, Fotheret O'Nolan, Rathsillan
Location Castlemore, Fennagh,
County Carlow, Ireland
Coordinates 52°48′34″N 6°46′21″W / 52.809489°N 6.772553°W / 52.809489; -6.772553
Type motte
Circumference 50 metres (55 yd)
Height 9 metres (30 ft)
History
Builder Raymond FitzGerald
Material earth
Founded 12th century
Periods Norman Ireland
Cultures Cambro-Norman, Old English
Designation National Monument

Castlemore Moat is a motte-and-bailey and National Monument in County Carlow, Ireland.

Location

Castlemore Moat is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) northwest of Tullow and 2 kilometres west of the River Slaney. It is not to be confused with Castlemore House, a 19th-century country house 1 kilometre south of the motte.

History and archaeology

The motte and bailey castle was constructed in the 12th century AD by Raymond FitzGerald (Raymond le Gros), one of the commanders of the Norman invasion of Ireland. The land of Forth O'Nolan was granted to Raymond and he married Basilia, sister of Strongbow. They lived together at Castlemore.

All that remains is the motte, an artificial hill about 9 metres (30 ft) high, and a standing stone measuring 170 by 45 by 30 centimetres (5.58 by 1.48 by 0.98 ft) with a Latin cross inscribed in it, with a suppedaneum (foot-rest at the base). The motte is not a perfect circle, but measures 18 metres (59 ft) east-to-west and 13 metres (43 ft) north-to-south.

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