The building’s origins are somewhat disputed, with local tradition crediting either the FitzGeralds or the Moores with its construction, though historical records suggest the Moores were firmly established here by 1550 when a contemporary map marked it as ‘Castle Moore’. The castle once formed part of the old village of Moorestown, serving as a defensive stronghold in this rural corner of the Dingle Peninsula.

Today, only a fragment of the castle survives; a 5.15 metre section of the southwest wall, standing 3.4 metres high and 1.6 metres thick. This remnant features a narrow arrow loop set within an embrasure, its widely splayed ingoings and lintelled rear arch typical of medieval defensive architecture. At the wall’s southern end, another section runs perpendicular for just over two metres, though it’s largely featureless and weathered. The interior space has been confused by later additions, particularly the foundations of old dwellings that were built amongst the ruins.

The castle’s decline was gradual but decisive. Whilst a substantial portion still stood in 1841, much of the structure was deliberately demolished in 1921 due to safety concerns about its unstable condition. What visitors see today is merely a shadow of what was once presumably an imposing five-sided fortification, its unusual pentagonal design giving it its distinctive Irish name. Despite its ruined state, these remnants offer a tangible connection to the medieval history of County Kerry, when powerful families like the Moores controlled strategic points along Ireland’s western coastline.