The castle’s strategic placement along this waterway would have provided both a reliable water source and a natural defensive barrier, typical of medieval fortifications throughout Ireland.

Historical records paint a picture of a once-thriving stronghold. The Civil Survey of 1654-6 documents that Marcus Synnott owned both the castle and its accompanying bawn at Rosegarland, noting they were in good repair as recently as 1640. This suggests the site maintained its importance and functionality well into the 17th century, a period when many similar fortifications across Ireland were falling into disrepair following decades of conflict.

Today, the question of the bawn’s location presents an intriguing puzzle. Whilst no obvious traces of this defensive courtyard remain, a small walled enclosure measuring roughly 30 metres square may hold the answer. This enclosure, defined by masonry walls topped with brick crenellations, incorporates the tower house at its northwest corner. Whether this represents the original bawn mentioned in the Civil Survey or a later addition remains uncertain, though its dimensions would be unusually modest for a traditional bawn, which typically encompassed larger areas to protect livestock and provide refuge for local inhabitants during times of danger.