A bawn was essentially a defensive wall that enclosed a courtyard area around a castle or fortified house, providing protection for livestock and people during times of conflict. These structures were particularly common during the plantation period of the 16th and 17th centuries, when English and Scottish settlers built fortified homes to protect themselves from potential Irish raids.

Archaeological excavations carried out in 1998 shed further light on this particular site, revealing more details about the defensive architecture that once stood here. The fortified house itself, catalogued as CO150-036002 in the archaeological inventory, would have served as the main residence whilst the bawn walls created a secure perimeter. These walls were typically constructed from local stone and stood high enough to deter raiders whilst providing platforms for defenders to return fire if necessary.

Today, only traces of the bawn wall remain visible, offering visitors a tangible connection to Cork’s contested history. The site represents a common pattern across Ireland where fortified houses and their associated defensive structures dot the landscape, each telling a story of colonisation, resistance, and the gradual transition from military architecture to more peaceful domestic dwellings. The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, first published in 1992 and subsequently updated, continues to document these important historical sites, ensuring their stories aren’t lost to time.