This tower house, like many others scattered across the Clare landscape, was documented in detail by local historians Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen in their comprehensive survey of the county’s fortified structures. The castle’s strategic position would have given its inhabitants commanding views over the surrounding countryside, whilst its robust construction speaks to the uncertain times in which it was built.

The tower house retains much of its original defensive character, with thick walls and carefully positioned openings that served both practical and military purposes. The southeast elevation presents the most complete face of the structure, whilst the northeast side conceals its ground floor entrance behind a screen of trees that have grown up around the monument over the centuries. The southwest elevation shows signs of the wear and damage typical of these ancient structures, yet the castle remains remarkably intact considering its age.

Protected under a preservation order since 1973, Mountcashel Castle represents one of many such tower houses that once dotted the Irish landscape during the late medieval period. These fortified residences served as both homes and strongholds for the Gaelic and Anglo-Norman families who controlled much of rural Ireland between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today, the castle stands as a protected national monument, its stone walls a tangible link to the complex social and political landscape of medieval Clare.