This ancient fortification was significant enough to confer the title of baron upon a younger branch of the family, marking it as an important seat of power in the region known as Clanmaurice. When the antiquarian John O’Donovan surveyed the site in 1841, he found substantial remains of the structure; a compact fortress measuring 21 feet 6 inches from east to west, with its northern wall still standing at an impressive 16 feet high. The castle’s defensive capabilities were evident in its construction, with walls over 7 feet thick built from local limestone bound with lime and sand mortar, all carefully grouted to ensure strength and durability.

The castle appears in the historical record during a particularly turbulent period in Irish history. The Annals of the Four Masters, that great chronicle of medieval Ireland, records an incident in 1577 when the castle played a role in the complex web of alliances and conflicts that characterised the era. During a military expedition, Mac Maurice (likely a member of the Fitzmaurice family) was granted permission by O’Donnell to lead a portion of an army through Clanmaurice territory. As they marched through the lands, they discovered several castles, including Ballykealy, poorly defended and vulnerable; an opportunity the force didn’t hesitate to exploit, seizing the fortifications they found inadequately guarded.

Today, nothing remains visible above ground of this once formidable castle. The stones that O’Donovan carefully measured and described have vanished entirely, likely robbed out over the centuries for use in local building projects or simply succumbed to time and weather. What was once a symbol of Norman power and a strategic military position has been reclaimed by the Kerry landscape, leaving only its story preserved in historical documents and archaeological surveys. The site now exists primarily as a reminder of how even the most substantial medieval structures can disappear completely, their histories surviving only through the careful work of antiquarians and historians.