This structure, dating from the late 16th or early 17th century, once formed part of the fortified enclosure surrounding a tower house that still stands on the site. The surviving section of the bawn wall stretches approximately 20 metres north to south, about 16 metres west of the tower house itself.

The wall’s construction tells its own story of local building practices from centuries past. Built from a mixture of sandstone and limestone rubble, roughly arranged in courses, it rises to a height of 2.7 metres. The western face, which would have been the external side facing potential threats, features a subtle base batter; a slight slope designed to strengthen the wall’s foundation and make it harder to scale. Time has taken its toll on the structure, with the entire wall now leaning noticeably eastward.

Today, the site sits peacefully amongst farm buildings that run east from the tower house’s eastern wall, a stark contrast to its original defensive purpose. Bawns like this one were essential features of Irish tower houses during the plantation period, providing fortified courtyards where cattle could be secured and residents could retreat during raids. The Ballyneill bawn offers visitors a tangible connection to this era when even wealthy families needed to think as much about defence as they did about comfort in their homes.