The fortified house and bawn at Drumahaire occupy a commanding position at the southern edge of the village, roughly 60 metres north of the medieval O’Rourke castle. From this elevated spot, the original inhabitants could survey the river as it curves through the landscape some 100 metres to the south and 120 metres to the west.

The bawn, a fortified courtyard typical of plantation-era Ireland, measures approximately 48 metres from northeast to southwest and nearly 35 metres across. Its defensive walls, standing 2 to 3 metres high and about a metre thick, form a protective enclosure around the house, though interestingly the house itself sits towards the northeastern end without actually connecting to the walls. Today, the northeastern wall section remains the best preserved, featuring three gun-loops set into rectangular embrasures; small openings that allowed defenders to fire muskets whilst remaining protected. Seven more gun-loops pierce the northwestern wall, though time has claimed any trace of the wall-walk or steps that would have given access to defensive positions along the top.

The original entrance to the complex was through a gatehouse positioned at the southern end of the northwestern wall, slightly offset to the west. A small round-headed doorway, possibly original, also provides access through this wall, alongside later insertions including a gateway and an additional doorway. The antiquarian Francis Grose captured the site in an illustration from 1791, revealing that unlike many contemporary fortifications, these bawn walls were never topped with crenellations; instead presenting a stark, unadorned defensive perimeter that speaks to the practical military concerns of its builders.