Historical records from 1538 mention ‘Teig O’hidriskoll’s goodly moated site’, which historian Kelleher suggests could be the stone walling still visible along the northern section of this coastal stretch. The O’Driscolls were once powerful lords in this part of Cork, controlling much of the maritime trade along the southwest coast, and this location would have given them command over the bay’s approaches.

The site reveals several intriguing features that speak to its former importance. On the southeastern side, upstanding walls suggest the remains of a bawn; a defensive courtyard typical of Irish tower houses and castles of the period. These fortified enclosures served as both cattle pens and last lines of defence during raids, essential elements of any respectable Gaelic lord’s residence. The combination of moated site and bawn would have created a formidable defensive position, controlling access to both land and sea routes.

Perhaps most telling is the cleared area of foreshore immediately north of the ruins, deliberately maintained to allow small craft to beach safely. This landing spot would have been vital for the O’Driscolls’ maritime activities, whether legitimate trade, fishing, or the piracy for which some family members became notorious. The castle at Ballylinchy, combined with this strategic coastal position, formed part of a network of O’Driscoll fortifications that once dominated this coastline, each stone a testament to centuries of Gaelic lordship along Cork’s Atlantic edge.