Though the castle itself has long since vanished, its footprint remains clearly visible in the landscape today. The site consists of a raised mound measuring approximately 30 by 34 metres, surrounded by the remnants of defensive earthworks. A substantial bank, some 26 metres wide on the western side, once encircled the entire complex; traces of this can still be seen for about 113 metres. The strategic positioning near the river wasn’t accidental; boats could navigate right up to the castle grounds, where a drawbridge likely provided controlled access through a six-metre gap in the fortifications.

The castle’s turbulent history reflects the broader conflicts that swept through Ireland during the Tudor period. In 1568, it became the backdrop for a violent confrontation between Thomas Fitzmaurice, Lord of Kerry, and James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald, a kinsman of the Earl of Desmond. The siege ended badly for Fitzgerald’s forces, who were decisively routed, leaving John Fitzgerald, heir to nearby Lickbebune, among the dead. The castle’s strategic importance became even more apparent during the Nine Years’ War, changing hands multiple times between 1600 and 1602. Sir Charles Wilmot first captured it in 1600, catching the Irish defenders off guard before they could demolish the fortifications, and subsequently used it as his operational headquarters for the district.

The Fitzmaurice family’s relationship with the Crown during this period was characteristically complex. After initially taking up arms against English authority in 1600, Thomas Fitzmaurice made peace the following year and had his North Kerry estates restored. However, when Spanish forces landed at Kinsale in late 1601, he joined the rebellion once more, prompting Sir Wilmot to retake the castle in 1602. The political winds shifted again with the accession of King James I, who pardoned Fitzmaurice in 1603. By 1612, the family’s position was formally secured when they received a patent confirming their North Kerry estates, bringing a measure of stability after decades of conflict.