The castle ruins at Liskilleen sit within what was once a substantial rectangular enclosure, measuring approximately 43 metres from north to south and 64 metres from east to west. These dimensions, recorded during an archaeological survey in 1994, suggest this was a significant fortified site, likely built during the plantation period when such defensive structures were common across Ireland.

The term ‘bawn’ comes from the Irish word ‘bábhún’, meaning cattle enclosure, though these fortified courtyards served a much greater defensive purpose than simply protecting livestock. During the 16th and 17th centuries, bawns were typically built alongside castles and fortified houses, providing a secure perimeter wall where settlers and their animals could retreat during attacks. The substantial size of the Liskilleen enclosure indicates this was likely home to a family of some importance, who needed both the protection and the status symbol that such fortifications provided.

Today, visitors to the site can still trace the outline of this once-imposing defensive structure, though time and weather have reduced much of it to foundation stones and partial walls. The archaeological designation MA110-055001 marks it as a protected monument, ensuring that these fragments of Ireland’s complex colonial history remain preserved for future generations to study and explore. While the castle itself may be largely ruined, the site continues to tell the story of a time when the Irish countryside was dotted with such fortified homesteads, each one a testament to the uncertain and often dangerous conditions of plantation-era Ireland.