William Molyneaux, writing in 1709, identified this as ‘Dunekuagh the ruins of a great fortification built by the Lords of Kerry at their first coming hither’, suggesting the castle’s origins date back to the early medieval period when Norman lords were establishing their control over the region. The castle’s commanding position on this rocky outcrop would have provided its occupants with sweeping views of approaching vessels and travellers, making it an ideal defensive stronghold.

Today, visitors to the site will find little more than a solitary fragment of wall measuring 2.1 metres by 1.2 metres and standing less than a metre high; a rather modest testament to what must have been an imposing structure. The castle’s near complete disappearance isn’t due to centuries of weathering alone, but rather the practical needs of local tenants who systematically removed the stonework to build their own houses, a common practice throughout rural Ireland where ancient ruins served as convenient quarries for building materials.

Archaeological surveys have revealed earthworks stretching across the neck of the promontory, forming what appears to be an additional line of defence. Whether these earthen fortifications were built alongside the original castle or represent a different phase of occupation remains uncertain. The site, catalogued as KE004-006002 in the North Kerry Archaeological Survey, continues to intrigue historians and archaeologists who piece together its story from the scant physical evidence and historical records that survive.