These archaeological features were documented in 1994 during a comprehensive survey of the Ballinrobe area, which encompassed the scenic waters of Lough Mask and Lough Carra. The survey, conducted by the Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association, catalogued hundreds of historical sites throughout the district, with this particular bawn receiving the designation number 708.

A bawn was essentially a fortified courtyard that surrounded tower houses and castles in medieval and early modern Ireland, serving as a defensive perimeter where livestock could be protected and where the household could retreat during raids. The walls were typically constructed of stone and could range from simple enclosures to more elaborate structures with corner towers and defensive features. The presence of possible bawn wall remains at Castle Island suggests this was once a significant defensive site, likely dating from the late medieval period when such fortifications were common throughout Mayo.

Today, whilst the tower house itself stands as monument MA110-004, the potential bawn walls represent an intriguing archaeological puzzle. Their partial survival along just two sides raises questions about the original extent of the fortification; whether the eastern and southern sections have been lost to time, or if the natural defences of the island location made full enclosure unnecessary. Such sites offer valuable insights into the defensive strategies and daily life of Gaelic and Anglo-Norman families who once controlled these strategic positions throughout the Irish countryside.