First documented on Petty’s 1685 map of Ireland, this once-imposing structure has been reduced to subtle earthworks that require a keen eye to spot. What remains today is a raised circular platform, roughly 49 metres across from east to west, with the Annalee River curving protectively along its southern boundaries. The rest of the site is marked by a heavily disturbed scarp, evidence of centuries of neglect and agricultural activity that have gradually erased most visible traces of the medieval fortification.

The site’s most intriguing neighbour is Lislin House, a substantial building that sits immediately to the north and east of the old castle grounds. When architectural historian Davies examined the house in 1948, he noted its unusually thick walls and distinctive sloping batter, features that initially suggested it might date from the early 1600s. However, closer inspection revealed the house to be of more recent construction, though it may well incorporate elements from earlier structures on the site.

Perhaps the most peculiar discovery at Lislin House came during renovation work, when five horse skulls were unearthed beneath the drawing room floor. These skulls were likely placed there deliberately as foundation offerings, a practice with deep roots in Irish folk tradition where such items were believed to bring good fortune or ward off evil spirits. This custom, which persisted well into the modern era in rural Ireland, provides a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs and superstitions that shaped how people built and protected their homes, long after the castle that once dominated this landscape had crumbled into memory.