The three-storey structure, built from coursed limestone masonry, dates back centuries; historical records from 1541 describe it as part of a larger complex that included various agricultural buildings such as a threshing house, hemp yard and haggard. By the time of the Civil Survey in 1654-6, it had already earned the designation of ‘old castle’ and was listed as property of the Parsonage of Portraine.

The tower house measures approximately 6 metres east to west and 7.3 metres north to south, with a spiral staircase tower projecting from the northeast corner. Its north entrance displays an unusual architectural quirk: the walls on either side protrude forward, creating an offset doorway, whilst the first floor oversails the ground floor on this same side. A string course marks where the parapet level once stood, and 17th-century brick additions crown the upper portion, including a chimney that likely served to buttress what had become a weakened section of the structure.

Though access is currently blocked and the east and south facades are heavily overgrown with ivy, the castle’s defensive features remain evident. The entrance passage contains a murder hole, a common medieval defence mechanism, whilst the ground floor boasts a barrel vault with an arched recess. The first floor, lit by plain window openings in the south wall, retains its original fireplace and wall presses; small cupboards built directly into the masonry that once stored household items. Despite its current state of neglect, this tower house stands as a tangible reminder of medieval life in rural Dublin, when such fortified dwellings dotted the Irish countryside.