This D-shaped enclosure measures 18 metres in internal diameter, with its unusual form resulting from modern development that has encroached upon its northern side. The defensive stone wall, though now reduced to just half a metre in height, still traces the outline of what would have been a substantial circular fortification, save for several gaps that have opened up in the northern, eastern and southern sections over the centuries.

The cashel sits amongst rocky grazing land, a location typical of these structures which were often built in elevated positions that offered both defensive advantages and good drainage for livestock. The builders would have carefully selected and stacked local stones without mortar, creating walls that were likely much taller and more imposing when first constructed, possibly reaching two or three metres in height with a single entrance gateway.

Two rectangular structures visible outside the northeastern sector appear to be later additions, probably dating from the modern period rather than being contemporary with the cashel itself. These stone ringforts were common throughout Ireland between the early medieval period and the 17th century, serving as protected homesteads for farming families of various social standings. The Goland cashel represents one of hundreds of similar sites documented across County Donegal, each offering a tangible connection to the lives of those who shaped this landscape over a millennium ago.