The four-storey tower, measuring 10.8 metres by 8 metres, rises from the southern corner of what was once an extensive bawn; a defensive courtyard typical of Irish fortifications from this period. When surveyed in 1978, the tower house remained in remarkably good condition, with an adjoining building to its south still intact.

The bawn itself tells a story of both resilience and decay. This roughly rectangular enclosure, stretching 52 metres from north-northeast to south-southwest and 42 metres from east-southeast to west-northwest, was originally defended by circular towers at its corners. Today, only the southwest corner tower survives alongside sections of the 3-metre-high perimeter walls. Historical maps from 1837 show the bawn had towers at both the northwest and southeast angles, with possible evidence of another partially destroyed tower at the southwest corner. These defensive walls and the remaining circular flanker tower are pierced with gun loops, narrow openings that allowed defenders to fire upon attackers whilst remaining protected.

The tower house itself reveals sophisticated defensive planning in its construction. Gun loops are cleverly incorporated into the window embrasures at the lowest level, allowing the building to serve both as a residence and a formidable stronghold. The south wall of the tower was integrated into the bawn’s defensive perimeter, creating a unified fortification system that would have been imposing in its heyday. Though time has claimed some of the corner towers and sections of wall, what remains at Killeenbrack offers visitors a tangible connection to Ireland’s turbulent past, when such fortified homes were essential for survival in an often contested landscape.