The structure, now protected as National Monument No. 491, features a distinctive projecting stair turret at its northeast corner; a common defensive feature that allowed defenders to monitor approaches whilst providing vertical circulation within the tower.

The castle’s original design was more extensive than what survives today. Evidence suggests a substantial structure once adjoined the western side, where the springing of a barrel vault remains visible in the stonework. This lost western wing appears to have housed the original ground floor entrance stairs, with a doorway above the current entrance providing access between the two sections. The existing tower retains impressive architectural details, particularly on the first floor, which served as the main living space. Here you’ll find a large fireplace for warmth, windows decorated with carved mouldings that speak to the status of its inhabitants, and a garderobe with its chute cleverly built into the wall thickness of the stair turret; medieval plumbing at its most practical.

The third floor of the surviving tower is roofed with a barrel vault, demonstrating the sophisticated construction techniques employed by medieval builders to create fire-resistant upper levels. Interestingly, Ordnance Survey maps from the 19th century mark another castle site just 300 metres to the east, suggesting this area held strategic importance for controlling movement along the Liffey valley. The tower house has been under state protection since 1940, ensuring this remarkable piece of Ireland’s medieval heritage remains preserved for future generations to explore and understand.