The structure spans roughly 36 metres north to south and 33 metres east to west, with the southeast wall sitting about a metre lower than its counterparts. A gatehouse marks the eastern entrance, whilst defensive corner towers anchor the northwest and northeast angles, all originally surrounded by an 8-metre-wide moat that still traces the western, northern, and eastern boundaries at a depth of 2 metres.

Archaeological excavations conducted between 1971 and 1975 revealed layers of history beneath the current structure, with findings published in detail by Foley and Donnelly in 2012. The castle’s unusual pentagonal layout likely evolved from practical defensive considerations and the constraints of its lakeside location, rather than following the more typical rectangular plan of Irish tower houses. The conservation work that followed these excavations has helped preserve the site as National Monument No. 390, ensuring its architectural features remain accessible to visitors.

Today, the castle welcomes visitors from April through October for a modest entrance fee, offering a chance to explore both the restored interiors and the impressive defensive walls. The view from the west showcases the formidable nature of the fortification, whilst the interior courtyard, particularly when viewed from the southeast, reveals how domestic life would have functioned within these protective walls. As a site under state ownership through Heritage Ireland, Parke’s Castle continues to serve as a tangible link to Ireland’s plantation period, when such fortified homes marked the changing political and social landscape of the region.