The site appears on the Ordnance Survey map of 1837, marked simply as ‘Site of Donore castle’, suggesting that even by the 19th century, little remained of the original structure. Today, you’d be hard pressed to find any trace of its existence amongst the offices and car parks that have taken its place.

The castle was part of a medieval borough that held some significance in the 13th century. Historical records, specifically Alen’s Register from 1228, mention this borough, indicating that Donore was more than just an isolated fortress; it was part of a larger settlement with administrative importance. The register, a collection of medieval documents compiled by John Alen, Archbishop of Dublin in the 16th century, provides one of the few written references to confirm the site’s medieval heritage.

Despite archaeological surveys and historical research, no visible surface traces of Donore Castle survive. The complete absence of physical remains makes it one of Dublin’s more elusive medieval sites, known only through cartographic evidence and brief mentions in administrative documents. Its transformation from medieval stronghold to business park represents a common fate for many of Ireland’s lesser known historical sites, where urban development has entirely erased the medieval landscape that once defined these areas.