The castle’s elevated position offers sweeping views westward and along the river, whilst its architectural features bear striking similarities to Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir, suggesting both were part of the same ambitious building programme. Historical records trace the site back to medieval times when it served as a manor, first held by the Le Poer family until the late 14th century, then passing to the powerful Earls of Ormond in 1375 when Edward III granted the lands to James Butler and his countess Elizabeth.

The castle complex consists of a square bawn constructed from limestone rubble with an outer defensive bawn to the west. The main residential buildings occupied the north wall, featuring a five-storey rectangular tower house at the northeast corner, another building with a circular tower at the northwest, and a great hall connecting the two. The northeast tower, measuring nearly 12 metres north to south and almost 8 metres east to west, retains many of its original features including a projecting garderobe turret, multiple floors once supported by wooden beams on corbels, and an internal spiral staircase that rises from ground level to the parapet. Each floor showcases different window styles, from simple gun-loops to elaborate ogee-headed lights, whilst several chambers contain the remains of polished limestone fireplaces with moulded surrounds.

The castle’s turbulent history includes a dramatic episode during the Cromwellian wars of 1649-53, when it was garrisoned for the royalist cause under Captain Butler. After an initial failed attempt to capture it, the notorious regicide Colonel Axtell marched from Kilkenny with two cannons and forced its surrender, with the garrison being escorted to the nearest Irish quarters. Later modifications in the 17th century saw the insertion of new windows, whilst repairs in 1837 by new owner George Roache helped preserve the structure. Today, despite some collapsed sections and ivy growth, the castle remains an impressive testament to the power and architectural sophistication of the Butler dynasty in medieval Ireland.