Today, only fragments of this once formidable stronghold survive: an L-shaped corner of ivy-covered masonry marking the northeastern section of a two-storey building. The surviving walls, which include a notably thick northern wall at 1.7 metres compared to the eastern wall’s 1.3 metres, feature a small narrow window on the first floor and a slight plinth at the base. Nearby, a substantial chunk of masonry lies prostrate, possibly collapsed from the original structure, whilst various scarps and banks in the surrounding area hint at the castle’s former extent.

Historical records place a castle here as early as 1324, though the surviving structure likely dates from later. By 1574, the castle was firmly in the possession of Callogh O’Kelly, one of the prominent Gaelic families who controlled much of this region. Its condition during the famous Battle of Aughrim in 1691 remains a matter of debate; some contemporary accounts described it as ‘very strong’, whilst others noted it was already ruinous. By the time Ordnance Survey mapmakers arrived in the 19th century, so little remained that they marked it simply as ‘Site of’.

The castle ruins now share their elevated platform with a modern memorial cross, the rectangular scarped area measuring roughly 35 by 26 metres. The strategic importance of this location becomes clear when you consider its proximity to the site of a medieval priory just 195 metres to the southeast, suggesting this area once formed an important ecclesiastical and defensive complex controlling the approaches to Aughrim.