Location: On the R434, south of Borris in Ossory and in the field to the north of the nearby Dominican friary.
OS: S 32809 85965
Longitude: -7.5128567
Latitude: 52.923772
Description and History: Located in the field to the North of Aghaboe Abbey this motte and bailey was likely constructed in the late 12th century. Its builder was likely Adam de Hereford who was granted the vill of Aghaboe and the cantred of land on which it stood, by the Early of Pembroke, Richard de Clare (the infamous Strongbow) in 1172. Adam de Hereford was also granted lands at Clonfertmulloe and Skirk, the latter of which he also fortified. Given this that area is close to the border of Ossory and Eile and part the route into Munster, it is not hard to see why de Hereford would have wanted a series of strong fortifications in this area.
The motte is slightly square in shape and is c.45m in diameter at its base, and c.35m in diameter at its summit. The summit is defined a low grass-covered stone wall. The bailey was located to the north, but this is fairly hard to spot now, but traces of it can still be seen. The motte was surrounded by a shallow fosse. While we would normally think of mottes having wooden structures, this one was either built in stone or replaced with stone shortly afterwards. I would argue for the latter as this motte was in use well into the 14th century giving ample time for a rebuilding in stone. By 1359 the motte was in the hands of the Irish MacGillapatrick family having also been attacked by them in 1346 led by Dermot MacGillapatrick (the one-eyed). These attacks would also result in the destruction of the Augustinian priory nearby, which would pave the way for the construction, by the MacGillapatricks of the Dominican friary directly to the south.
While it is easy to overlook the motte today, it looks little more than a clump of trees, it would have formed part of a larger settlement. Given that Dominican foundations were generally on the outskirts of towns, which they relied on for their income, it follows that a sizeable population once lived here, probably to the north of the motte where the foundations of houses were said to have stood to the early 20th century.
Difficulty: This monument is situated on private land in a field where there often cattle. Caution is advised.
Date of Visit: Various dates between August 2009 and October 2025.
For more motte and baileys, click here.
For more sites in Co. Laois, click here.
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| As viewed from Aghaboe Abbey. |
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| Believe it or not these are different angles, but the vegetation makes it hard to see. |
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| Viewed from the field to the west. |
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| Aerial shot with the abbey in the background. |
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| You can see some of the earthworks here. |
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| Faint traces of the fosse. |
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| On the summit. |
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| Grass covered stone walling. |
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| Fossils in one of the stones on the summit. |