Whilst no visible traces of the castle remain above ground today, it’s likely that stones from the original structure were repurposed and incorporated into nearby buildings, a common practice that has left many Irish castles surviving only in the fabric of later constructions.

The most intriguing remnant associated with the castle is a sheela-na-gig that was discovered lying nearby. These distinctive stone carvings, depicting female figures in an exaggerated manner, are found throughout Ireland and Britain, often built into churches and castles during the medieval period. The presence of this particular sheela-na-gig suggests it was once part of the castle’s stonework, perhaps serving as a protective symbol or ward against evil, as was commonly believed.

The De Capel family, also known as Supple, were Anglo-Norman settlers who established themselves in Cork following the Norman invasion of Ireland. Their decision to build a castle at this strategic location, with commanding views over the Glenbower river valley, would have allowed them to control movement through the area and assert their authority over the surrounding lands. Today, whilst the castle itself has vanished, the site remains significant to understanding the pattern of Norman settlement in east Cork and the ways in which medieval structures continue to influence the Irish landscape, even in their absence.