This weathered stone remnant is all that survives of a circular tower, likely a corner tower that once formed part of a fortified bawn; a type of defensive wall that surrounded and protected tower houses and castles throughout Ireland during the plantation period.

The site’s long history of abandonment is evident from historical records dating back to the 17th century. When mapped during the Down Survey of 1654, undertaken to assess land ownership following the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, the structure was already noted as being in ruins, described simply as the ‘stumpe of a castle’. This suggests the fortification had already fallen into disrepair by the mid-1600s, possibly damaged during the tumultuous wars of that period or simply abandoned as defensive needs changed.

Today, visitors to the site will find little beyond this lone tower fragment, with no other features of the original bawn or associated buildings visible above ground. The surrounding landscape has reclaimed much of what once stood here, leaving only this stone sentinel as evidence of Behernagh’s fortified past. Archaeological surveys conducted for the County Offaly inventory have documented the site, ensuring its place in the historical record even as nature continues its slow work of reclamation.