Known variously as Ballinvard, Ballinward, or Rossmore Castle, the structure was likely built in the late 16th century as a stronghold for the O’Hurley clan. Higher ground surrounds the tower on all sides except to the southwest, creating a natural defensive position that the builders clearly recognised and exploited.

The tower’s eastern wall contains the main entrance, marked by a door with a bluntly pointed arched head. Once inside, visitors would have found themselves in a vaulted lobby, though the vault has since collapsed. From here, the layout becomes more complex; a spiral stone staircase in the southeast corner winds up through all four storeys, providing access to every room and eventually leading to a wall-walk along the southern wall. The ground floor also houses a vaulted guardroom in the southeast corner, complete with a gun loop strategically positioned to cover the front door.

The internal arrangement shows careful planning for both comfort and defence. An interior partition wall runs through the building, containing multiple fireplaces that served chambers on both sides, with the chimney stack rising through the gable. The main chambers occupy the western side of the tower, whilst four smaller rooms stack vertically above the entrance lobby on the eastern side. Window embrasures throughout feature segmental vaults, and whilst few of the original lights survive, gun loops flank most window openings for added protection. The tower’s defensive features extend to its roofline, where square bartizans cap the northeast and southwest corners, and a narrow machicolation above the eastern door allowed defenders to protect the entrance from above. Today, heavy ivy cloaks much of the exterior, adding to the structure’s romantic appearance whilst obscuring some architectural details.