This imposing structure, which rises 13 metres high with its distinctive round form and slight inward slope, has witnessed centuries of Irish history. Originally held by Richard Strang in 1640, the castle changed hands during the Cromwellian period when ownership passed to Sir Algernon May, reflecting the turbulent property transfers that characterised that era.

The tower’s defensive capabilities are immediately apparent in its western entrance, where visitors encounter a pointed doorway protected by both a yett (a type of iron gate) and a machicolation above; features designed to make unwelcome guests think twice. Inside, the castle reveals its practical medieval layout across three main storeys plus a loft level. The ground floor chamber, measuring just under 4 metres across internally, features two narrow window embrasures, whilst a cleverly designed lobby system includes a guardroom to the south and a northern passage leading to the spiral staircase. The loft level once sat beneath a now destroyed dome and contains three embrasures, along with a double garderobe accessed from the stairs; a medieval luxury that saved residents from venturing outside during inclement weather.

The upper floors showcase the evolution of the castle’s use over time, with the first floor taking on a rectangular plan complete with a fireplace and ogee-headed windows that hint at later medieval refinements. The D-shaped second floor continues this theme with its decorative double-light windows. The rebuilt parapet crown includes three original machicolations facing west, east and south, whilst a later bellcote at the north end served the 18th or 19th century farmyard that once adjoined the southern wall. Though much of this agricultural addition has been removed, the bellcote remains as evidence of the castle’s transformation from defensive stronghold to working farm building, embodying centuries of adaptation and survival along the River Suir.