What visitors will find today is far from the imposing fortress it once was; instead, a low stone wall traces an irregular path across the landscape, marking out an area roughly 50 metres from north to south and 20 metres from east to west. This modest remnant is all that survives of what archaeologists believe to be the castle’s bawn wall, a defensive barrier that would have enclosed the main tower house and protected both people and livestock during times of conflict.

The identification of these ruins as part of Dunmahon Castle’s defensive structures comes from archaeological surveys conducted by Cotter, who documented the site as part of Cork’s extensive medieval heritage. Bawn walls were a common feature of Irish tower houses from the 15th to 17th centuries, serving as fortified courtyards that provided an essential layer of security for the families who lived within. The irregular line of the surviving wall at Dunmahon suggests it was built to follow the natural contours of the land, a practical approach that would have maximised the defensive advantages of the terrain whilst minimising construction effort.

Though only these fragmentary walls remain visible above ground, they offer a tangible connection to Cork’s turbulent past, when local lords needed substantial fortifications to protect their holdings. The site has been catalogued as part of the Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, ensuring its preservation as an important piece of the region’s medieval landscape. For those interested in exploring Ireland’s castle heritage beyond the well-preserved tourist sites, Dunmahon’s humble ruins provide an authentic glimpse into how most of these structures appear today; worn down by centuries but still marking their place in the Irish countryside.