The site’s most striking feature is its tower house, positioned at the southwest corner of what became a 19th century castellated mansion. This rectangular tower, measuring 7.7 metres east to west and 5.85 metres north to south, stands as a reminder of Cork’s turbulent medieval past when such fortified residences dotted the landscape.

The tower house itself tells a story of adaptation and survival through the centuries. Its thick walls, built with the characteristic external base batter that helped deflect projectiles and strengthen the structure, speak to its original defensive purpose. Sometime in its long history, the tower was converted into residential quarters; a transformation evident in the later insertion of doors and windows that would have made the space more liveable, if less defensible.

Today, Kilfinnan Castle remains privately held and largely inaccessible to casual visitors, though its commanding position above the harbour makes it a notable landmark for those exploring West Cork’s coastal heritage. The embattled walls of the 19th century additions give the whole complex a romantic, if somewhat fanciful, medieval appearance that was much in vogue during the Victorian era, when many Irish landowners sought to emphasise ancient lineages through such architectural flourishes.