The castle has vanished so completely that no visible trace remains on the surface, leaving only historical records and archaeological surveys to tell its story.

According to the historian Gillman, writing in 1892, only a small portion of the castle survived into the late Victorian period. He compared its architectural style to that of Carrignamuck Castle, suggesting both structures shared similar defensive features typical of late medieval Irish fortifications. The castle’s construction likely took place during a particularly turbulent period in Irish history, between 1465 and 1500, when local lords were consolidating their power and building strongholds throughout the region.

The fortress was reportedly built by the MacCarthy clan, one of the most powerful Gaelic families in Munster, but intriguingly, it seems they didn’t occupy it themselves. Instead, the castle housed their gallowglass; elite Scottish mercenary warriors known as the MacSweenys, who served as professional soldiers for Irish lords. This arrangement was common in medieval Ireland, where powerful families would grant lands and fortifications to their military retainers in exchange for military service, creating a network of allied strongholds across their territories.