Known simply as Castle to locals, this fortified house dates from the early 17th century, likely built around 1620 during the plantation period when English and Scottish settlers were establishing themselves across Ireland. The structure represents a transitional phase in Irish architecture; neither fully a medieval castle nor entirely a country house, it embodies the uncertain times in which it was constructed, when comfort was desired but defence remained necessary.

The building’s most striking feature is its distinctive Z-plan layout, with two square towers projecting from opposite corners of the main rectangular block. This clever design allowed defenders to provide covering fire along all walls, eliminating blind spots that attackers might exploit. The towers themselves rise four storeys high, connected by a three-storey central range, with the original entrance positioned strategically in one of the towers rather than the main façade. Murder holes above the entrance, gun loops at various levels, and bartizans projecting from the corners reveal that despite its relatively comfortable interior arrangements, this was a house built with siege in mind.

Archaeological evidence suggests the castle was abandoned by the early 18th century, possibly during the Williamite Wars when many such houses were destroyed or left to decay. Today, the ivy-clad ruins offer a fascinating glimpse into a turbulent period of Irish history, when the country’s new landowners built homes that were equal parts domestic residence and military stronghold. The thick limestone walls, some reaching nearly a metre in width, have weathered three centuries remarkably well, and visitors can still climb the narrow spiral staircases and peer through the defensive gun loops that once watched over the surrounding countryside.