This elevated spot once hosted a castle structure, though today no visible traces remain above ground. The site appears on the 1842 Ordnance Survey six-inch map, marked simply as ‘site of’, suggesting the building had already disappeared by the mid-19th century.

The fortification was known as Barry Castle, taking its name from the prominent Anglo-Norman family who held considerable power in Cork from the medieval period onwards. The alternative name ‘Courtstown’ provides an intriguing clue to the site’s later history; the term ‘court’ often indicates a 17th-century construction or reconstruction, possibly representing a transition from medieval fortress to more comfortable manor house during that period. This transformation would align with broader patterns across Ireland, where many old castles were either abandoned or rebuilt as more domestic residences following the tumultuous events of the 1600s.

Archaeological records for the site come from the comprehensive Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, compiled in 1994, with updates added as recently as 2009. Whilst the physical structure has vanished, the strategic importance of this location is still apparent to anyone who visits the knoll today; its position would have provided early warning of approaching vessels or armies, making it an ideal defensive position for controlling access to this part of Cork’s complex harbour system.