This medieval fortification consists of a flat-topped earthen mound, roughly 18 metres across at its summit and 30 metres at the base, now covered in scrub vegetation. The motte is surrounded by a wide, deep fosse (defensive ditch) and earthen bank, with a narrow causeway providing access from the north. The commanding position offers sweeping views across the surrounding countryside, a strategic advantage that would have been crucial to its medieval occupants.

To the north of the motte lies a rectangular bailey measuring approximately 32 by 29 metres, enclosed by its own earthen bank and fosse, though the bank is now only visible on the northern side. Within the bailey, faint traces of cultivation ridges running from west-south-west to east-south-east hint at later agricultural use of the site. The entire complex forms a classic example of Norman military architecture in Ireland, likely dating from the late 12th or early 13th century when these fortifications were rapidly constructed across the conquered territories.

The castle doesn’t stand alone in this historic landscape; it’s part of a rich concentration of monuments that tell the story of Rathgarve through the centuries. Just 280 metres to the south stands a tower house, whilst 120 metres to the north-north-west you’ll find Rathgarve church and its graveyard. A 17th-century wayside cross marks a spot 50 metres to the west, and intriguingly, the remains of what may be a medieval roadway, flanked by low stone walls, can still be traced 50 metres west of the motte. The townland boundary with Stonestown is marked by a stream 150 metres to the east, completing this remarkable assemblage of historical features.