The castle’s turbulent history stretches back to at least 1488, when the Annals of the Four Masters recorded its destruction by the Earl of Kildare, who brought ordnance against this stronghold of the sons of Murtough Mageoghegan. The Mac Geoghegan clan’s connection to this site endured well into the early modern period, though not without interruption; in 1604, King James I granted the castle and its lands to William Taaffe after James McRosse McGeoghegan was declared an outlaw, marking another shift in the fortress’s ownership.

What remains today of this once formidable structure is a long, narrow rectangular building aligned north to south, accompanied by a roughly D-shaped earthen enclosure on its eastern side that likely served as a bailey or courtyard. The surviving portions, primarily the western wall stretching about 16 metres internally and rising to approximately 10 metres in height, along with the southern gable and southeast corner, showcase construction techniques using large undressed rubble stones, some of considerable size. The walls, measuring about a metre thick, hint at the castle’s defensive capabilities whilst revealing intriguing architectural details.

Archaeological examination has uncovered evidence of internal partition walls, including one running east to west parallel to the southern gable, separated by a mere 60 centimetres. This peculiar arrangement may have housed a garderobe, as suggested by remnants of what appears to be a chute or shaft in the southwest angle. A second transverse wall extends from the western wall further north, though much of the castle’s western face has suffered considerable damage, with a large gap visible between these partition walls. Two rectangular openings punctuate the western wall, positioned just north of each partition wall, offering glimpses into the castle’s original layout. Today, the site faces modern pressures; a silage pit abuts the western wall whilst the surrounding area serves as a working farmyard, adding contemporary layers to this ancient site’s long story.