Historical maps from the 19th century mark this location as ‘Castle in ruins’ and later as ‘Castle (site of)’, but the physical structure has long since vanished. The site’s history is tangled with that of another possible castle in neighbouring Glencolumbkille North, making it difficult for historians to determine which fortress is referenced in various documents, or indeed whether both ever existed at all.

Written records suggest that a castle of ‘Glancollayn Kelly’ stood here in 1574, owned by a member of the O’Loughlin clan. Following the 1641 rebellion, the British confiscated the property and granted it to John Blake and his wife, who subsequently rented it to John Hynes and Brian Kilkelly in 1659; this marks the last documented mention of the castle. Local historians Ua Cróinín and Breen have theorised that if a tower house did exist here, its stones were likely recycled by the O’Briens during the 18th century to construct Glencolumbkille House, which stands about 225 metres to the south. Their investigation uncovered several large limestone blocks on a limestone outcrop, whilst nearby garden walls and gatepiers contain stones dressed in typical tower house fashion, including three chamfered loop jambs.

Modern surveys of the site have revealed little of the original castle, though a rectangular building defined by drystone walls of irregular limestone blocks can be found near the mapped location. This structure, heavily overgrown and damaged by machinery over the years, features a 15-metre south wall and remnants of west and east walls, with a fulacht fia (ancient cooking site) located approximately 30 metres to the west. The combination of documentary evidence, recycled masonry, and the enigmatic ruins continues to intrigue those seeking to understand medieval settlement patterns in this part of Clare.