The castle sits just 70 metres south of Ballygriffin church and graveyard, commanding views across the western landscape. Historical records from the Civil Survey of 1654-6 reveal that in 1640, the property belonged to Doctor Garrott Fennell, described as an “Irish Papist” esquire. At that time, surveyors noted the presence of “a castle wanting repayre wth a strong Bawne”, indicating the fortification was already showing signs of neglect despite its robust defensive walls.

Today, what remains of this once formidable structure centres on the northwest tower, the sole surviving element of what appears to have been a larger complex consisting of a central block flanked by mural towers. The tower’s western wall stretches 5.15 metres, whilst partial returns of the north and south walls extend approximately 4 metres each. Built from roughly coursed limestone rubble with well-formed quoin stones at the corners, the structure rises to about 4.7 metres with walls 0.6 metres thick and a subtle base batter for added stability. A projecting string course runs along the wall about 5 metres above ground level, originally continuing onto the now-vanished central block; only a small section of this connecting wall survives, projecting southward from the tower’s south wall.

The tower itself rises four or five storeys, topped with a distinctive parapet featuring stepped crenellations. Each floor contains a large, centrally positioned window set within flat-headed embrasures on the western wall, whilst numerous gun-loops pierce the walls, though many are now blocked internally and obscured by thick ivy growth on the exterior. Doorways at the second and third floor levels once connected the angle tower to the main block, evidence of the castle’s interconnected defensive design. The parapet’s crenellations showcase fine craftsmanship, with cut limestone coping stones that curve decoratively at the angles, each topped with a carved stone block; a small flourish of architectural elegance amidst the military pragmatism of the fortification.