The site, which sits about 10 metres northwest of an ancient burial ground, appears on the 1842 Ordnance Survey six-inch map as a rectangular structure. Today, however, visitors will find no trace of the castle; according to locals, the remaining ruins were completely levelled around 1935.

Before its destruction, the castle presented an intriguing architectural puzzle. The antiquarian Samuel Lewis, writing in 1837, described it as “a solitary square tower of very rude character”, noting its unusual design features. Most remarkably, the tower had no windows whatsoever, only two entrances: one at ground level and another positioned at considerable height above it. This defensive arrangement suggests the upper entrance may have been accessed by a retractable ladder or wooden stairs, a common feature in Irish tower houses designed to prevent unwanted visitors from gaining entry.

The castle’s complete disappearance represents a common fate for many of Ireland’s lesser-known medieval structures. Without the protection afforded to more famous sites, these buildings often fell victim to stone robbing for local construction projects or were simply cleared to make way for agricultural use. The Donaghmore site now exists only in historical records and maps, a reminder of how much of Ireland’s built heritage has vanished within living memory.