The castle, which served as the principal stronghold of the Barrett clan after they purchased the site in 1468, consists of a slender four-storey tower positioned unusually on the eastern edge of a fortified bawn that follows the natural contours of the rocky outcrop. This defensive arrangement reverses the typical Irish castle layout, where the tower usually dominates the enclosed courtyard space.

The main tower, measuring roughly 5.3 metres by 4.5 metres, showcases sophisticated medieval architecture with its series of vaulted chambers connected by narrow mural staircases that wind through the thickness of the walls. Each floor features distinctive pointed wicker-centred vaults; a construction technique where woven wicker formed the temporary support for the stone arch during building. The tower’s defensive features include a garderobe (medieval toilet) with its chute visible on the north face, whilst the windows display a mix of architectural styles, from simple flat-headed openings to more elaborate pointed and cusped designs on the south side. A stone plaque reading “W 1857” marks Victorian-era repairs undertaken by the Wyse family, though the essential medieval character remains intact.

The surrounding bawn wall, standing between 3.5 and 5.5 metres high, creates an impressive defensive perimeter punctuated by gun loops; narrow vertical slits designed for firearms that indicate later medieval modifications. Within this enclosure, archaeological evidence suggests the presence of a great hall along the north wall, identified by three large windows including one with a double ogee-headed light. A three-storey tower built into the southeast corner provided additional defensive capability, whilst the remains of garderobe features and wall-walk stairs throughout the complex reveal the practical considerations of daily castle life. Though gaps now breach the eastern wall and several structures within the bawn have vanished, the site remains one of Cork’s more complete tower house complexes, offering visitors a tangible connection to the late medieval period when such fortified residences dotted the Irish landscape.