This four-storey fortified house follows the distinctive Z-plan design, where two corner towers project diagonally from opposite corners of a central rectangular block; a layout that provided defenders with clear sightlines along every wall. Built from roughly coursed limestone rubble, the castle bears testimony to the tumultuous period when such fortifications were essential for survival in rural Ireland.

The castle’s history is tied to the O’Connor family, with Craig’s research indicating a datestone from 1601, though its current whereabouts remain unknown. This date places the construction during a particularly volatile period in Irish history, just after the Nine Years’ War and on the eve of the Flight of the Earls, when local families needed substantial defences against both political rivals and opportunistic raiders. The Z-plan design, whilst relatively uncommon in Ireland, offered superior defensive capabilities compared to simpler tower houses, allowing defenders to cover blind spots and provide flanking fire along the walls.

Archaeological evidence suggests the original defensive complex extended beyond the main tower. To the southwest, remnants of what appears to be an original bawn wall can still be seen; a fortified courtyard wall that would have enclosed livestock, storage buildings, and provided an additional line of defence. These walls now support nineteenth-century outhouses built against their internal face, showing how the castle evolved from military stronghold to agricultural centre as Ireland became more peaceful. The site offers visitors a tangible connection to four centuries of Irish history, from clan warfare through colonial settlement to modern farming life.