Though Duncan’s 1821 map clearly marks a castle at this location, later Ordnance Survey maps from the 6-inch series show no such structure. Today, visitors to the site would find no visible traces of the castle above ground; its stones and foundations have seemingly vanished into the earth, leaving only historical records to tell its story.

The mystery of Castlekelly deepens when considering accounts from the OS Letters of 1837, which describe a house at old Castlekelly that incorporated parts of the original castle structure. This intriguing detail suggests that rather than being completely demolished, the castle may have been partially repurposed, its ancient stones finding new life within the walls of a more modern dwelling. Whether this house referenced in 1837 stood at the exact spot marked on Duncan’s map remains uncertain, adding another layer to the site’s enigmatic history.

The complete absence of visible remains makes Castlekelly a ghost of Irish heritage, existing now only in historical documents and old maps. Its transformation from a defensive structure to possible domestic dwelling, and finally to empty pastureland, reflects the changing fortunes of many Irish castles over the centuries. For those interested in Dublin’s medieval past, Castlekelly serves as a reminder that not all history leaves physical traces; sometimes the most we have are the careful notes of surveyors and cartographers who documented what they saw before it disappeared forever.