These compact stone castles served as both defensive strongholds and symbols of local authority during a turbulent period in Irish history. Tower houses like this one were particularly common in counties like Kerry, where powerful families needed secure bases to control their territories and protect their wealth.

The structure follows the standard tower house design: a rectangular stone building rising several storeys, with thick walls that could withstand attack. Originally, the ground floor would have been used for storage, whilst the upper floors contained the main living quarters, including a hall for entertaining and conducting business. Many tower houses featured murder holes above the entrance, narrow arrow slits for defence, and a spiral staircase built into the walls. The battlements at the top provided both a defensive platform and commanding views across the surrounding countryside.

Though now a ruin, this tower house once formed part of Kerry’s network of similar fortifications, each controlling strategic points along rivers, roads, or coastal areas. These buildings tell the story of late medieval Ireland, when local lords maintained their power through a combination of military strength and political alliances. Today, the remaining stonework offers visitors a tangible connection to this era, when the Irish landscape was dotted with hundreds of these small but formidable castles.