Today, only a fragment remains of what was once a formidable stronghold; a section of the western wall stretches 5.42 metres long and rises 4 metres high, with a small portion of the northern wall still attached. The most notable architectural feature is a double-splayed lintelled window at the southern end of the western wall, its design typical of medieval Irish fortifications where such openings provided both light and defensive positions.

The castle’s history reflects the changing fortunes of Anglo-Norman and English power in Munster. Originally built by the Fitzgerald family, one of the most influential Anglo-Norman dynasties in medieval Ireland, the fortress later passed into the hands of Edmund Spenser, the English poet best known for writing ‘The Faerie Queene’. Spenser acquired the property as part of the Munster Plantation in the late 16th century, when English authorities redistributed lands following the Desmond Rebellions. From his nearby estate at Kilcolman, Spenser would have known this castle well, and it remained in his family’s possession for generations after his death in 1599.

Historical records, including Smith’s 1750 account of Cork, help piece together the castle’s past, though much of its story has been lost along with its walls. The commanding position overlooking the Blackwater valley speaks to its strategic importance; the river served as both a trade route and territorial boundary throughout the medieval period. While the remaining ruins might seem modest, they stand as a physical link to the complex history of plantation, poetry, and power that shaped this corner of North Cork.