Today, visitors to the site will find no visible traces of the castle above ground; the structure has completely vanished from the landscape. The only evidence we have of its former appearance comes from a photograph taken in 1907, which shows what remained of the castle at that time: two corners of the structure still standing, reaching about eight metres in height and completely covered in ivy.

The castle was a Roche family stronghold, one of many fortifications built by this Anglo-Norman family who held considerable power in County Cork from medieval times. The Roches, who arrived in Ireland following the Norman invasion of the 12th century, established numerous castles throughout the region to secure their lands and maintain control over their territories. Ballylegan Castle would have served as both a defensive structure and a symbol of the family’s authority in this part of north Cork.

The site’s location was strategically chosen, as was typical of medieval fortifications in Ireland. The elevated position on the slope would have provided clear views of the surrounding countryside and the river valley below, allowing the castle’s inhabitants to monitor movements along the Funshion River and the lands beyond. Though nothing remains visible today, the site continues to hold archaeological significance as part of Cork’s rich medieval heritage.