Set on flat pastureland with commanding views across the surrounding countryside, this location was strategically chosen for defence during an era when fortified homesteads were essential for survival. The Civil Survey of 1654-6 records it as an ‘old Bawne’, suggesting it was already considered ancient by the mid-17th century, whilst also noting that the property belonged to one John McEgan, described as an ‘Irish Papist’.

The mention of McEgan’s religious affiliation in official records reflects the political and religious tensions of the period, when Catholic landowners faced increasing pressure under English rule. Bawns were defensive walls built around tower houses and castles throughout Ireland, particularly during the plantation period, serving as fortified enclosures where livestock could be protected and residents could retreat during raids. The fact that this bawn was already described as ‘old’ in the 1650s indicates it may have been constructed in the late medieval or early plantation period, possibly dating to the 16th or early 17th century.

Archaeological surveys have found no physical evidence of either the bawn walls or the associated castle that likely stood here, suggesting the structures were either dismantled for building materials or simply eroded away over the centuries. The flat pasture that remains offers little hint of its defensive past, yet the documentary evidence preserves the memory of a time when even rural landowners needed substantial fortifications to protect their families and property. The site serves as a reminder of how completely some elements of Ireland’s built heritage have vanished, leaving only written records to tell their stories.