The site first appeared on Ordnance Survey maps in 1836, marked simply as ‘Fort’, though its true nature remains something of a mystery. The mound itself is substantial; its flattened summit measures roughly 39.5 metres from northeast to southwest and 28 metres from northwest to southeast, with steep, scarped sides that give it an imposing presence in the landscape.

What makes this site particularly intriguing is the stone structure in its southwest quadrant: a narrow, circular tower built atop a larger rounded stone base. Rather than being medieval in origin, this appears to be a folly, likely constructed in the late 18th or early 19th century when such romantic architectural follies were fashionable amongst landowners. The entire monument is now heavily overgrown with vegetation, making detailed inspection challenging for archaeologists and visitors alike.

The site’s interpretation has been contentious over the years. In 1947, historian Davies confidently described it as a 14th or 15th century castle of the ‘keep and bawn’ type; a fortified tower house with an enclosed courtyard typical of late medieval Ireland. However, subsequent archaeological investigation has found no documentary evidence or physical remains to support this claim. The Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan, published in 1995, takes a more cautious approach, classifying it as a ringwork castle, though even this designation remains uncertain given the lack of definitive medieval features.