Constructed around 1600 by the Sweetman family, who were prominent merchants and landowners in the region, the structure reflects the defensive needs of its time whilst incorporating elements of comfort that marked the transition from purely military fortifications to more residential dwellings. The four-storey rectangular tower, complete with its distinctive Irish stepped battlements and corner bartizans, overlooks the River Nore valley; a strategic position that allowed its inhabitants to monitor river traffic and the surrounding countryside.

The Sweetmans held the castle for nearly two centuries, weathering the storms of the Confederate Wars, Cromwell’s campaign, and the Williamite War. During the 1650s, the family briefly lost their lands under Cromwell’s confiscations, though they managed to regain ownership following the Restoration. The castle’s thick limestone walls, some measuring over a metre in depth, bear witness to these tumultuous times, with musket loops and defensive features still visible throughout the structure. The interior retains several original features including a spiral stone staircase, vaulted ceilings on the ground floor, and the remains of large fireplaces that would have warmed the principal chambers.

Today, the castle remains in private ownership but stands as an evocative reminder of Kilkenny’s complex history. The surrounding landscape has changed dramatically since the Sweetmans’ time; where once defensive considerations dominated, peaceful farmland now stretches towards the river. The castle’s survival through four centuries speaks to both the quality of its construction and the care taken by successive generations of owners, making it one of the better-preserved examples of its type in the region.