When antiquarian Lord Dunraven documented the site in 1865, he described the castle as “a massive oblong tower, surrounded by a wall now nearly destroyed”. His detailed drawings from that period show the wall running north to south on the eastern side of the castle, and today, visitors can still spot a section of this ancient barrier standing roughly 11 metres east of the tower house.

The relationship between the bawn wall and the castle itself tells an interesting story of architectural adaptation. Unlike many Irish tower houses where defensive walls were built simultaneously with the main structure, Dunnaman’s bawn appears to be a later addition, possibly dating from the 17th or even 18th century. This timing would make it contemporary with the post-1700 outbuildings that were attached to the castle’s southwest corner, suggesting a period of renewed activity and modification at the site rather than original construction.

Today, the bawn’s footprint is largely obscured by 19th century farm buildings that occupy much of the enclosed area, whilst the northern, southern and western sections of the wall have disappeared entirely. Archaeological compiler Caimin O’Brien’s recent work on the site in 2019 has helped piece together these fragments of history, revealing how Dunnaman evolved from a medieval tower house into a more complex fortified residence that adapted to changing times and defensive needs.