The castle’s tumultuous history reads like a chronicle of Irish conflict; it was returned to the Crown in 1569, leased to Sir Nicholas Malby in 1577, and likely transformed into a fortified house in the 1580s by either Malby or his son Henry. The castle endured repeated attacks, being burned by Hugh O’Donnell in both 1596 and 1599, before falling under Parliamentary control during the 1640s. Sir Charles Coote garrisoned it until General Preston took it after a battle in 1645, and Captain Daly later surrendered it to Colonel Gore on behalf of Cromwell in 1652 without resistance.

The transformation into a fortified house involved extensive alterations to the original 13th century castle structure. A grand three-storey L-shaped house with an attic was constructed, incorporating the entire north side and most of the east side of the inner ward. This ambitious renovation required modifying the northwest and northeast corner towers and demolishing much of the east gateway. Large mullion and transom windows with square hood mouldings were inserted into the walls above ground level, whilst the main entrance was positioned on the inner façade. Today, only fragments remain of this once-imposing residence, including the altered corner towers, portions of the east wall and gatehouse, and the south gable of the east range.

Beyond the main structure, the estate featured a substantial walled garden measuring approximately 100 metres square to the east and north of the castle. The south and east walls still stand at 3.5 metres high with 0.6 metre thickness, complete with foundations of a circular tower at the southeast corner. Archaeological excavations have revealed additional walls extending northward, along with pits and furrows that likely date from the same period. Tree-lined avenues radiated from the fortified house as part of the designed landscape, with a 1736 map showing mature trees along the route connecting the castle to the town. After being burned again in 1691, the castle has remained derelict, though conservation works were undertaken during the 20th century to preserve what remains of this significant historical site.