Today, 19th-century farm buildings from the Castlefreke estate stand where this medieval stronghold once dominated the landscape. The castle’s history stretches back to the 15th century when, according to historian Gillman’s 1897 account, it was built by Randal Oge Barry. By 1642, ownership had passed to Arthur Freke, who found himself defending the castle during a prolonged but ultimately unsuccessful siege by Irish forces.

Very little remains of the original defensive structures, though fragments of the earlier fortifications can still be spotted amongst the later additions. The southeast corner of what’s now a coachyard preserves a rounded arch running east to west, covering a rectangular space measuring 7.3 by 4.1 metres. This arch springs from two notably thick walls, each about 1.2 metres wide, though centuries of alterations and rebuilding have changed their original appearance considerably. The southern and western edges of the site feature a tall revetment wall built directly against the rock face, a testament to the defensive considerations of the castle’s builders.

Perhaps the most intriguing surviving feature is a semi-hexagonal bastion that projects from the revetment wall to the south. This structure contains blocked semicircular arched openings that Gillman identified as cannon ports, suggesting the castle’s adaptation to gunpowder warfare. The bastion itself has since been filled in, with its top now level with the ground inside the enclosure. The farmyard has been undergoing conversion into a folk park, offering visitors a chance to explore this layered history where medieval defences, 17th-century conflict, and 19th-century agricultural life all converge in one remarkable location.