The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick provides a fascinating glimpse into the property’s past, recording that in 1641 it belonged to John Fox of Ballyvenoge. At that time, the estate comprised not just ‘a good castle’ but also a bawn, an orchard, and what the survey rather diplomatically described as ‘indifferent houses’; presumably modest dwellings that served the needs of the estate’s workers and tenants.

The bawn, a defensive courtyard wall typical of Irish fortified houses from this period, would have enclosed an area around the tower house, providing protection for livestock, storage buildings, and the estate’s inhabitants during times of trouble. While the tower house itself still stands as monument LI039-074, the exact location of the bawn remains something of a mystery. Archaeological evidence suggests it may have been situated to the north of the tower, though its precise boundaries have yet to be identified on the ground.

The site was photographed from the air in January 2003 as part of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland’s aerial reconnaissance programme, with these images offering valuable perspectives on the castle’s setting and any potential surviving earthworks. These aerial views, combined with historical records like the Civil Survey, help piece together the story of a fortified estate that once played its part in the complex tapestry of 17th-century Limerick’s landed society.