The steep southern slope of the hill would have provided a natural defensive advantage to this limestone rubble tower house, which originally rose three storeys high. Though time has taken its toll on the upper levels, with the second floor now largely destroyed, the remaining structure offers fascinating insights into medieval Irish castle design. Evidence of a wall walk can still be spotted at the northeast corner, hinting at the defensive capabilities this fortress once possessed.

The castle’s defensive layout reveals careful planning, with a bawn wall extending from the southwest corner westward before curving back to rejoin the tower house at its northeast corner. This protective wall shielded the original entrance, which once stood at the centre of the north wall but has since been lost to time. The ground floor, measuring 5.5 metres north to south and 4 metres east to west, featured a barrel vaulted ceiling and likely served as storage space, complete with an attic level above. The first floor, accessed via narrow mural stairs built into the north wall, provided the main living quarters; its 5 by 5 metre space was illuminated by a large window on the south wall, though this too has suffered damage over the centuries.

The castle’s defensive features tell us much about the threats its inhabitants faced. Multiple musket loops pierce the walls, particularly concentrated on the southern and western sides of the first floor, whilst additional loops at ground level on the south and east walls suggest these areas lacked the protection of an outer bawn wall. The first floor once boasted a wooden roof, supported by stone corbels that can still be seen on the western wall about 2 metres above floor level. Though the stairway that once led from the first floor’s northwest corner to the now ruined second floor is damaged, enough remains to trace the original circulation pattern through this compact but efficiently designed stronghold.