The hillock, now planted with conifers, rises dramatically from the surrounding landscape in An Sliabh Riabhach, County Cork. Though the site’s defensive advantages are immediately apparent, very little remains of the castle that once stood here.

The flat summit, now overgrown with vegetation, holds only fragmentary evidence of its former fortification. A short section of ivy-covered walling survives along the northern edge, standing about 1.3 metres high and 1.4 metres thick; substantial dimensions that hint at the structure’s original strength. About seven metres to the south, a line of rubble and debris likely marks where another wall once stood before collapsing. Beyond these sparse remains, there’s no visible trace of what was once a complete castle.

According to historical records, this castle was built by the O’Herlihy family, who held power in this part of Cork during the medieval period. The strategic position overlooking the river valley would have given the O’Herlihys control over movement through the area, whilst the natural defences of the steep-sided hill made any assault difficult. Today, the site serves as a quiet reminder of the many small fortifications that once dotted the Irish countryside, most now reduced to little more than stone fragments and local memory.