Known locally as Lios Arúla Castle, the site comprises a substantial motte, or raised earthen mound, crowned by what would have once been a timber palisade and tower. The fortification likely dates to the Anglo-Norman period of the 12th or 13th century, when such structures were rapidly erected across Ireland as the Normans sought to establish control over newly conquered territories.

The motte rises impressively from the surrounding landscape, its steep sides still clearly defined despite centuries of weathering. At its base, traces of a bailey can be discerned; this lower enclosed area would have housed the garrison, stables, workshops, and other buildings essential to castle life. Archaeological surveys suggest the site may have earlier Irish origins, possibly as a ringfort or rath, which the Normans then adapted and fortified to their own defensive needs.

What makes Lios Arúla particularly intriguing is its strategic position overlooking the surrounding countryside, offering commanding views that would have been vital for monitoring movement and potential threats. Local tradition holds that the castle played a role in various territorial disputes between Gaelic clans and Norman settlers, though documentary evidence remains scarce. Today, sheep graze where soldiers once stood watch, and the motte serves as a tangible reminder of the complex layers of conquest, resistance, and adaptation that characterise medieval Irish history.