The castle was likely constructed by Mortagh O’Brien, part of the powerful O’Brien dynasty that dominated much of Munster for centuries. By 1585, the structure had passed to Donagh O’Brien, the fourth Earl of Thomond, who maintained ownership until leasing it to James FitzNicholas Bourke of Limerick in 1618.

Today, visitors to the site will find the ghostly outline of what was once a formidable defensive position. The rectangular foundations measure approximately 5 metres east to west and 4.6 metres north to south, defined by various structural remains including an eastern wall standing half a metre high and a southern scarp of similar height. The western and northern boundaries are marked by substantial grass-covered stone spreads; the western spread stretches 5.8 metres wide with varying heights, whilst the northern spread extends 2 metres with heights reaching up to 0.85 metres externally. Fragments of the original masonry still lie scattered in the central area, offering tantalising glimpses of the castle’s former construction.

Archaeological documentation of the site has been compiled by Michael Moore, with additional research contributed by Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen through their unpublished report on Clare’s castles and tower houses. Their work, made available in December 2014, provides valuable insights into this and other fortifications that once dotted the Clare landscape, serving as both defensive structures and symbols of power for the Gaelic and Anglo-Norman families who controlled the region.