The Civil Survey of 1654-56 recorded that Richard Hunte, formerly of Amogan, owned a castle and small bawn at this site in County Limerick, along with several large thatched houses. This snapshot from history captures a moment when traditional Irish strongholds were still functioning parts of the rural landscape, complete with their defensive walls and domestic buildings.

The castle tower itself is a compact but sturdy structure, measuring 8.4 metres by 6.6 metres at its base. Built in the typical Irish tower house style, it features two storeys beneath a stone vault, with two additional levels above accessed via a stairway from the north-facing entrance. This arrangement was standard for such fortifications; the vaulted lower floors provided both structural strength and fire resistance, whilst the upper chambers served as living quarters for the lord and his family.

The presence of a bawn, essentially a fortified courtyard wall, indicates this was more than just a defensive structure; it was a working estate centre where cattle could be protected and agricultural activities carried out safely. The mention of ‘great tatch houses’ suggests a thriving community existed here in Hunte’s time, with substantial thatched buildings housing tenants, workers, or storage within the protective embrace of the castle’s walls.