This circular defensive tower, measuring 8.8 metres across, rises nearly 10 metres at its western and southern sides, just shy of where the wall-walk would have been. Built with thick stone walls that create rectangular chambers within its circular exterior, the castle was recorded as belonging to John Butler in 1640, placing it firmly within the turbulent period of Irish history preceding the Cromwellian conquest.

The tower’s defensive features reveal the uncertain times in which it was built. The ground floor chamber, roughly 4.7 by 4.3 metres, bristles with defensive openings; windows face east and west, each flanked by a pair of gun loops that would have allowed defenders to cover approaches from multiple angles. A cleverly designed mural staircase built into the eastern wall connects the floors, leading first to a barrel-vaulted chamber on the first floor equipped with both a window and musket loop facing south. From these stairs, a passage tunnels through the thick walls to reach a garderobe at the south side, with two more musket loops providing defensive coverage along the way. The second floor, though now inaccessible, retains its fireplace at the southwest corner, suggesting this upper level served as more comfortable living quarters.

The castle sits within a trapezoidal grass-covered enclosure that extends roughly 53 metres from northwest to southeast. This defensive perimeter, defined by a subtle scarp no more than half a metre high and traces of an old fosse about 4 metres wide, would have provided an outer line of defence for the tower house. While time has softened these earthworks, their presence speaks to a comprehensive defensive strategy that combined the stone tower’s strength with the traditional Irish practice of earthwork fortification.