First mentioned in the medieval chronicle of Friar John Clyn in 1346, this once formidable structure has all but vanished from the landscape. By the early 20th century, only fragments remained; so insubstantial that a limestone armorial panel, measuring 23 by 34 inches and once proudly displayed within the castle walls, had been repurposed as part of a gate pier in a nearby field.

The castle’s history took an intriguing turn in 1570 when it was granted to the Hovenden family ancestors. This transfer of ownership makes the presence of O’Connor arms on the rescued limestone slab something of a historical puzzle. Local historians suggest the most likely explanation lies in a strategic marriage alliance between these two prominent families, a common practice amongst the Irish and Anglo-Norman nobility of the period to secure political connections and territorial claims.

Today, visitors to Ballylehane Lower will find no visible traces of either the castle or its ornate armorial panel. The site serves as a poignant reminder of how Ireland’s medieval heritage can slip away, leaving behind only archival mentions and archaeological notes. What was once documented as ruins in 1907 has now completely surrendered to time, its stones likely scattered or incorporated into local field walls and farm buildings, as was common practice throughout rural Ireland.