Built sometime between the 15th and 17th centuries, this rectangular stone stronghold likely served as both home and defensive position for a local landowning family. Tower houses represented a uniquely Irish architectural solution to the needs of the minor gentry; they required less manpower to defend than a full castle whilst offering far better protection than an unfortified manor house.

The structure follows the typical tower house design, with thick limestone walls that taper as they rise through multiple storeys. Originally, the ground floor would have been used for storage, with living quarters occupying the upper levels, accessible only by a wooden ladder that could be pulled up in times of danger. Small windows, designed more for defence than light, puncture the walls at irregular intervals. Though the roof has long since collapsed and the interior floors have vanished, the remaining shell hints at features like a spiral staircase tucked into one corner and the remnants of a fireplace that once warmed the main chamber.

Today, the Ballymullen tower house sits quietly in the Kerry countryside, slowly being reclaimed by ivy and weather. Like many of Ireland’s estimated 3,000 tower houses, it has no recorded history of famous battles or notable residents; instead, it speaks to the everyday realities of life in medieval Ireland, when even prosperous farmers needed stone walls between themselves and potential raiders. These towers served their purpose well enough that many remained inhabited into the 18th and 19th centuries, only falling into ruin after more peaceful times made their defensive features obsolete.