This tower house first appeared on historical records as a ruin in Taylor’s 1783 Map of County Kildare, suggesting it had already fallen into disrepair by the late 18th century. Today, only fragments of this once formidable structure remain, offering tantalising glimpses into its architectural past.

The castle’s surviving western wall stands 8.6 metres from north to south, constructed from roughly coursed limestone rubble with walls measuring 1.5 metres thick. Unlike many tower houses of its era, this one lacks the characteristic base batter; a sloped foundation that typically provided extra stability. At first floor level, visitors can still spot the springing point of what was once a barrel vault running north to south, whilst a double splayed loop window, measuring 0.7 metres wide, pierces the ground floor wall. These narrow openings served a dual purpose in medieval fortifications, allowing defenders to fire arrows whilst admitting minimal light.

A small section of the southern wall, extending 2.4 metres from east to west, still clings to the main structure. Archaeological investigation has traced the foundation courses of this wall for approximately four metres eastward, hinting at the castle’s original footprint. Though time and weather have reduced Moortowncastle to these sparse remains, the surviving masonry continues to mark this spot on the Kildare landscape where a medieval stronghold once stood guard over the surrounding countryside.