Unlike the well-defined defensive walls found at other Irish fortifications, this particular bawn’s boundaries remain somewhat mysterious to archaeologists. The southeastern wall appears to have been cleverly incorporated from an earlier medieval house on the site, creating a practical reuse of existing stonework that was common during Ireland’s turbulent medieval period.

The bawn likely served as a protective enclosure for the tower house that still stands to the northwest, forming part of a larger defensive complex typical of Anglo-Norman and Gaelic Irish settlements from the 15th to 17th centuries. These fortified enclosures were essential for protecting livestock from raids and providing a secure courtyard where daily life could continue even during times of conflict. Today, much of the original bawn wall lies hidden beneath centuries of accumulated rubble scattered across the area, making it difficult to trace its full extent without extensive archaeological investigation.

What makes this site particularly intriguing is how it demonstrates the layered history common to many Irish fortifications; structures built, rebuilt, and repurposed over centuries as different families rose and fell from power. The integration of the medieval house wall into the bawn’s defences speaks to the resourcefulness of its builders, who understood that in medieval Ireland, a strong defensive position often meant the difference between prosperity and ruin.