The ruins consist of two distinct stone blocks that once formed part of a larger fortified complex. What visitors see today are the remains of what was likely a tower house with an attached bawn wall; a defensive enclosure typical of Irish castles from the 15th to 17th centuries.

The most striking feature is a curved scarp that runs between the two surviving blocks on their southern side. This arc, composed partly of natural rock outcrop and partly of stone facing, marks the footings of the original bawn wall. Archaeological surveys suggest the western block was probably a mural tower, built into and strengthening the bawn wall itself, whilst the eastern block appears to be what’s left of the main tower house where the castle’s owners would have lived.

The castle’s dramatic position overlooking the lough would have provided both strategic advantage and stunning views across the Sligo landscape. Like many Irish tower houses, Castledargan would have served as both a home and a fortress, offering protection to the family and their livestock within the bawn during times of conflict. Today, the ruins sit quietly in pasture land, their weathered stones a testament to centuries of Irish history and the families who once called this clifftop stronghold home.