Located in the townland of Annaghs, the castle likely dates from the 15th or 16th century, when tower houses were the preferred defensive dwellings of Anglo-Norman families and Gaelicised lords across Ireland. These compact, vertical strongholds served both as symbols of authority and practical refuges during the turbulent centuries when local power struggles and cattle raids were commonplace.

The castle’s remains suggest it was a typical tower house of its era, featuring thick limestone walls that would have supported multiple storeys, with the family’s living quarters positioned safely above ground level. Though now roofless and partially collapsed, the surviving masonry reveals construction techniques common to Kilkenny’s medieval buildings; carefully dressed stone quoins at the corners and the remnants of narrow window openings that once provided light whilst maintaining defensive capabilities. The ground floor would have served as storage for provisions and possibly shelter for livestock during raids, whilst upper floors contained the hall and private chambers.

Today, Armaghs Castle sits quietly in the Kilkenny countryside, largely forgotten except by local historians and those who stumble upon it whilst exploring the area’s rich medieval heritage. Like many of Ireland’s estimated 2,500 tower houses, it represents a fascinating period when the landscape was dotted with these mini-fortresses, each controlling its own small territory. The castle’s weathered stones continue to speak of a time when security meant building upwards rather than outwards, and when every landowner of means needed walls thick enough to withstand both siege and centuries of Irish weather.