According to research by Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen, this tower house represents one of many such structures that once dotted the Clare landscape, serving as both defensive strongholds and symbols of local power. The castle’s location in Muckanagh places it within the broader network of fortified settlements that characterised the region during the late medieval period, when local lords required secure bases from which to control their territories and protect their interests.

The structure itself follows the typical design patterns of Irish tower houses built between the 15th and 17th centuries; a multi-storey stone building with thick walls, narrow windows, and defensive features that allowed a small garrison to withstand siege. These buildings served dual purposes as both military installations and residential complexes, housing the lord’s family on upper floors whilst maintaining storage, kitchens, and guard quarters below. Castle Dermot’s construction would have required significant resources and skilled craftsmen, indicating the wealth and influence of its original builders.

Today, the site offers visitors a glimpse into Ireland’s turbulent past, when control of land meant everything and stone walls provided the best defence against rival clans and English colonial forces. The castle ruins, documented in Ua Cróinín and Breen’s comprehensive survey of Clare’s castles and tower houses, form part of an important archaeological landscape that helps us understand how medieval Irish society organised itself, defended its territories, and adapted to changing political circumstances over several centuries.