The site’s origins trace back to a Poor Clare convent, though this religious foundation gave way to more martial purposes when the Butler castle was constructed here in 1309. The Butlers, one of medieval Ireland’s most powerful Anglo-Norman families, would continue to develop this strategic riverside location for centuries to come.

The castle underwent significant expansion around 1445 when Eamonn mac Risterd Butler added two tower houses to the complex, strengthening the family’s defensive capabilities during a particularly turbulent period in Irish history. These twin towers would have provided both accommodation and military advantage, allowing the Butlers to maintain control over this important crossing point of the River Suir. Just over a century later, around 1565, the complex evolved again with changing times; a Tudor mansion was incorporated into the existing structures, reflecting the shift from purely defensive architecture to more comfortable residential spaces that characterised the late 16th century.

The bawn wall, which extends southward from both towers, creates an enclosed courtyard typical of Irish fortified houses. Running from the southeast corner of the eastern tower and the southwest corner of the western tower, this defensive wall includes a now-blocked sallyport in its southern section that once provided direct access to the river below. This riverside entrance would have been invaluable for both trade and emergency escape routes, highlighting the strategic thinking behind the castle’s design and its evolution from medieval stronghold to early modern residence.