Built around 1440, probably by Edmund Butler, grandson of James, the 3rd Earl of Ormond, this rectangular tower house served as a Butler family stronghold until the early 18th century when Francis Flood acquired the property. What visitors see today is largely the result of an ambitious 1828 reconstruction that transformed the medieval fortress into something quite different; a Georgian-style residence complete with a ballroom, Swiss porch, and morning room.

The castle’s transformation tells a fascinating story of changing tastes and social needs. During the 19th century remodelling, possibly overseen by William Robertson, the builders covered the upper two storeys with cut limestone ashlar whilst leaving the lower levels in their original roughly coursed rubble with a defensive base batter. Large sash windows replaced the narrow medieval openings, and the interior received a complete Georgian makeover, including wood panelling and grand fireplaces. The east and west faces, broader than their north and south counterparts, accommodate three windows each, whilst some ground floor windows on the eastern elevation still sport their 19th century hood mouldings.

Today, this four storey tower house sits abandoned on the north side of a large farmyard complex surrounded by pasture. Having been unoccupied since the early 1970s, the building has fallen into serious disrepair and now stands as a roofless shell, its southern elevation heavily cloaked in ivy. Despite its current state, the castle remains an intriguing example of how Ireland’s medieval fortifications were reimagined for Georgian sensibilities, with curious features like the low circular tower beside it that may have been part of the original bawn defences.