Whilst the castle itself has long since vanished from the landscape, leaving no visible traces above ground, its defensive bawn remains remarkably well preserved. Writing in 1890, the historian O'Rorke noted that both the castle and bawn were "in fair preservation" at that time, suggesting the castle's disappearance occurred relatively recently in archaeological terms.

The surviving bawn, catalogued as monument SL019-062002, offers visitors a tangible connection to the defensive architecture of medieval and early modern Ireland. These fortified enclosures, typically built with high stone walls, served as protective courtyards for castles, providing shelter for livestock and a last line of defence during raids. The bawn at Tanrego West stands as one of the better preserved examples in the region, its walls still defining the space where daily life once unfolded under the shadow of conflict and uncertainty.

Adding another layer to the site's historical significance, a house dating from the late 16th or early 17th century stands approximately 25 metres north of the bawn. This structure, designated SL019-062003, likely represents the transition from purely defensive architecture to more domestic considerations as the region became somewhat more settled. Together, these surviving elements create a palimpsest of Irish history, where visitors can trace the evolution from medieval fortification to early modern habitation in a single location.