Records from 1286 detail repairs to a stone castle that required lead, slate and timber, along with the ambitious undertaking of digging a defensive moat around the structure. These medieval accounts paint a picture of a substantial fortification that would have dominated the local landscape during its heyday.

By the time of the Civil Survey in the 1650s, the site had evolved into a significant estate. The Earl of Ormond held 120 acres here in 1640, including what was described as a “large castle”, suggesting the medieval fortress had either been expanded or replaced with a more comfortable aristocratic residence suited to the changing times. The transformation from military stronghold to noble estate reflects the broader changes in Irish society as the medieval period gave way to the early modern era.

Today, visitors to the site will find no visible remains of these once impressive structures at ground level. The castle’s exact location within the ringwork is known only through Ordnance Survey maps from 1839 and 1940, which marked its position adjacent to another castle site. Archaeological surveys have confirmed the absence of any standing ruins, leaving only the historical records and the subtle earthworks to tell the story of what was once a significant centre of power on Great Island. The site serves as a reminder of how completely time and circumstance can erase even the most substantial medieval structures, leaving only whispers in old documents and marks on ageing maps.