The monument, now heavily cloaked in trees and undergrowth, represents a classic example of Norman military architecture in Ireland. The ridge’s naturally defensive position, with its sharp drops to the north, south and west, made it an ideal location for a fortification, whilst the more gradual southeastern slope follows the natural contour of the ridge top.

The motte itself was created by modifying the highest point of the gravel ridge, resulting in a raised earthwork with a fairly level, slightly oval summit measuring approximately 15 metres north to south and 12 metres east to west, rising about 3 metres in height. This artificial mound served as the base for what would have been a wooden tower or keep, the primary defensive structure of the castle. The strategic importance of such sites cannot be overstated; they formed crucial links in the Norman network of control across medieval Ireland, allowing small garrisons to monitor and dominate the surrounding countryside.

Encircling the base of the motte, a fosse or defensive ditch runs 2 to 3 metres wide and roughly half a metre deep, accompanied by a low counterscarp bank on its outer edge. This bank, measuring about 2 metres wide and rising half a metre on its external side, would have provided an additional defensive layer, making any assault on the motte considerably more difficult. Together, these earthworks represent a sophisticated defensive system that combined natural topography with human engineering, creating a formidable stronghold that would have dominated this portion of the Nuenna valley during the medieval period.