The O’Reillys were one of the most powerful Gaelic families in medieval Ireland, controlling much of what is now County Cavan from the 13th century onwards. Whilst nothing of the original castle remains visible above ground today, its strategic location would have made it an important stronghold for the clan during a tumultuous period of Irish history.

The site has undergone significant transformation since its days as a fortified residence. In the late 18th or early 19th century, a large house was constructed here, though this too now stands in ruins alongside its various outbuildings. These later structures likely incorporated or built over whatever foundations remained from the earlier castle, a common practice that has obscured many of Ireland’s medieval sites.

Archaeological records list the site as NMI: 1946, marking it as a place of historical significance despite the absence of visible medieval remains. The layered history of the location; from Gaelic stronghold to Georgian residence to present-day ruins; tells a broader story of Ireland’s changing political and social landscape over the centuries. For those interested in tracing the footsteps of the O’Reillys through Cavan, this site represents one of many former seats of power that once dotted the region, even if imagination is now required to picture the castle that once stood here.