The site was documented during the Ordnance Survey Letters of 1839, when surveyors rather dismissively described what remained as merely a ‘heap of rubbish covered in grass’. Today, even those meagre remnants have disappeared, leaving no visible traces on the surface to mark where this fortification once stood.

The absence of physical evidence makes this site particularly intriguing for those interested in Ireland’s lost heritage. Whilst many medieval structures across the country have left behind impressive ruins or at least discernible earthworks, Ballybar Upper’s castle has been completely reclaimed by the land. The only record of its existence comes from historical documents and the Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow, compiled in 1993, which confirms that a castle did indeed occupy this spot.

Without archaeological excavation, the castle’s original form, its builders, and the circumstances of its destruction remain mysteries. It likely dated from the medieval period when such fortifications dotted the Irish countryside, serving as both defensive structures and symbols of power for local lords. The complete disappearance of the castle serves as a reminder of how quickly built heritage can be lost when abandoned to the elements and time, transforming from imposing stone structures to mere memories recorded in old survey notes.